MUMBAI, Dec 30: State Congressmen, who only a week ago had begun to say they would never again believe in Sonia Gandhi for letting down the party so badly by refusing to campaign, were today heaping praises on her and hoping she would take to the road ``with a white sari with green and saffron border and pallu over her head'' to maximise the effect of her appearance before the masses.The dress code has been decided upon by these thoughtful Congressmen after much consideration: they believe it will not just project the colours of the national flag, but also be a chip off the old block (Indira Gandhi) as well as ``evoke memories of Rajiv Gandhi'', meaning draw attention to the loss of her husband (sic!).
While a couple of Congressmen were realistic enough to question whither the party was headed by building on ``corpses'' (first Indira and now Rajiv), by and large the state party headquarters were thronged by workers from all over the city who saw a turn in their party's fortunes with the advent of
Sonia.
``Her campaigning will certainly be useful,'' said a cryptic Sharad Pawar. ``This is a family which has been associated with the party and the country for so long.'' Leader of the opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Council Chhagan Bhujbal was not far behind in welcoming Sonia's descent onto the national scenario.Gurudas Kamat, former MP, got first off the mark by turning a routine opening of a district Congress office in his constituency of Mumbai north east to a welcome rally for Sonia.
Congressmen suddenly seemed to have developed muscle to flex against the Bharatiya Janata Party, as did Kamat by pooh-poohing its claims of stability and ridiculing its flip-flop-flip on several issues.
``The Congress party can never die and now we have all closed ranks behind Sonaji,'' he said.
The Maharashtra Seva Dal president Chandrakant Dayma said workers who had so far been glum and morose have suddenly been energised by news of Sonia's willingness to play a more active role in the
party.
Maharashtra Pradesh Youth Congress workers also thronged the party offices in large numbers today to celebrate the event.
Led by City unit president Charan Singh Sapra, they distributed sweets and burst fire crackers.
They also danced to the beat of drums and took out a procession.Meanwhile MPCC general secretary Kripa Shankar Singh held out a hope: Her active participation in politics would be the right signal to Congressmen who have left the party recently to return to the parent party and make it strong and united, he said.
Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
