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.

But there is consternation and confusion among members of the Delhi Sikh Pratinidhi Sabha. While Navneet Singh is thrilled that Sonia’s resignation has ‘‘shut the Opposition up’’, his colleague, Ravinderjit Singh Chandhok, scratches his beard wondering whether Sonia buckled under pressure from the Opposition. ‘‘What can I say, but at least now, no one can implicate her falsely,’’ he says.

Suddenly a frisson of excitement and fear cuts through the crowd as the acrid smell of kerosene wafts in the air — no Congress tyagi threatening to self-immolate, only workers burning pictures of BJP leaders LK Advani and Atal Behari Vajpayee.

Despite the lack of the suicide squad this time (remember the Congressman who waved a gun for two hours threatening to kill himself two years ago), the motley crew got a shot of momentousness and worth. Delhi strongman Sajjan Kumar shouted in vantage position on top of his Tata Safari, Minister Elongavan spoke to the Tamil contingent, reminding them that a ‘‘mother always sacrifices for her children’’. Jagdish Tytler too made an entry, but he was a picture of composure, pacifiying his supporters.

Some things don’t change, though. A bystander couldn’t help a jibe, pointing at Gurmeet Singh Sethi, famous for being a Manmohan Singh-lookalike and a desperate attention-seeker: ‘‘Even an imposter of Singh saab is ignored when it comes to Soniaji’’.