8,000 at Ghaziabad rally give gathbandhan boost

GHAZIABAD: Akhilesh Yadav’s public meet was a show of strength for the SP-BSP-RLD combine, with more than 8,000 people flocking to the venue at Ramleela Ground from nearby villages.

The tent, meant to hold 8,000 people, proved inadequate and people had to stand in open areas. Later, party functionaries made additional sitting arrangements adjacent to the main stage.

Sources said party functionaries in each of the five constituencies of Ghaziabad had been given a target to mobilise the crowd to the rally. More than 20 buses were used to bring in people. Political observers, however, pointed out that crowds don’t always translate to votes. Mohammad Zakir, a resident of Loni’s Chirori village, said he was not surprised at the number of participants. “Had they failed to bring in people here, it would have sent a negative message to the public at large,” he said.

Makkhan Singh, a farmer from Bulandshahr, said: “I have come here because of the alliance, although I have no voting rights here.”

The alliance is hopeful of getting the support of Muslims and Dalits. As the alliance candidate from Ghaziabad, Suresh Bansal, is from the business community, the combine hopes to get the votes of traders as well. On Monday, Bansal assured to bring a policy to regulate fees of private schools, besides working for the Dalits and farmers.