Mumbai: Congress's venue woes for Rahul Gandhi's city event

Rahul Gandhi

Congress president Rahul Gandhi will share his new-found aggressive anti-Narendra Modi vision with the party's karyakartas (booth level workers) at Sion's Shanmukhananda Hall on June 12. However, some senior party insiders have questioned the low scale of the event, which they think should be held at a much larger venue if all booths are to be accommodated and addressed by Gandhi at 3pm.

"Mumbai has a number of booths, much higher than the seats available at the venue. The indoor venue cannot accommodate everyone, even if a single representative from each booth decides to attend. The event of this size should have been held at a venue that can seat at least 10,000 people," said a Mumbai Congress office-bearer, requesting anonymity. His views were endorsed by at least five other senior leaders.

The Mumbai Regional Congress Committee (MRCC) has already sent out entry cards to its units. MRCC president Sanjay Nirupam refused to share details of the programme with mid-day. Another Congress leader said the question raised by his colleagues was valid, but said the organisers needed to be careful as the monsoon would set in by June 12 and an indoor venue would help in any eventuality.

"The hall at Sion that we have hired is the biggest in the city, and many events of this magnitude have been held here successfully in the past, not just by the Congress but other political parties as well," he said. When asked if the party would think of shifting the event to a bigger venue, say a ground where a rain-proof tent could be erected, the leader said money was a major concern. "We may have time on hand, but the party's city unit does not have the funds for such a venue," he said.