Sonia Gandhi, in and as Second Renunciation

The gaggle of stunned and bewildered party workers which began to congregate outside party headquarters on Akbar Road and 10 Janpath, the Gandhi residence next door, soon swelled and seethed, crying hoarse about their leader’s ‘‘sacrifice and divinity’’ and the BJP’s ‘‘treachery and malice’’.

But this was no carnival of grief of two years ago, when thousands had swirled around 10 Janpath, pleading with her to take up the prime minister’s post she had renounced so dramatically. This time, there was anger and pride, outrage and faith, indignation and hope for their leader’s ‘‘purification’’ and the enemy BJP’s ‘‘shame’’.

The Bihar contingent of Dr Ashok Ram, CLP leader and member of the party’s CEC and his group of four party colleagues are proud they were the first to arrive. Says Ram, ‘‘Shame on the BJP. In the last two days, their leaders have been spreading all this rubbish about Soniaji’s office. The EC has not reported anything, but she has shown the highest morality by resigning and contesting again. She has done the right thing.’’ In typical Congress excess, Ram’s colleague proudly points to the 500-strong Bihar sympathisers who, of course, do not exist. He is, however, candid when he admits they happened to be at the party headquarters for a meeting when the news broke out.

As the clutch of faithfuls fall in place, the street begins to take on the colours of a fairground — flags wave and flutter above as groups of Delhi Youth Congress workers march up and down shouting slogans and protests, sometimes knocking down giggling bystanders; television satellite dishes whirr up to position; banners scream Sonia’s sacrifice.

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