Synopsis
On February 5, Rahul Gandhi attended a celebration for Jaglal Chaudhary in Patna but mispronounced the name thrice, leading to audience corrections. The event highlighted Congress's mobilization challenges as attendance was disappointing compared to prior gatherings.Key Takeaways
- Rahul Gandhi mispronounced Jaglal Chaudhary's name three times.
- The event was poorly attended despite significant planning.
- Congress's grassroots presence in Bihar needs strengthening.
- Comparison with a successful earlier event highlighted the differences.
- The party faces challenges in mobilizing support for upcoming elections.
Patna, Feb 5 (NationPress) The Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, made a visit to Patna on Wednesday to celebrate the 130th birth anniversary of Jaglal Chaudhary, a prominent Congress leader and freedom fighter from Bihar.
However, the occasion took an unforeseen twist when Rahul Gandhi mispronounced Jaglal Chaudhary's name on three occasions, mistakenly calling him ‘Jagat Chaudhary’.
The mistake initially went unnoticed, but as he repeated it a second time, the audience stepped in to offer corrections.
Upon realizing his error, Rahul Gandhi promptly corrected himself and continued his address.
The event, organized by the Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee (BPCC) at Sri Krishna Memorial Hall, aimed to pay tribute to Chaudhary's role in the Indian freedom struggle and his service as a four-time minister in the Bihar government.
Despite the Congress party's efforts to host a significant gathering, attendance at Sri Krishna Memorial Hall was disappointingly low.
The hall, which seats around 1,700 individuals, had several seats allocated for security personnel and media, yet many remained unoccupied, indicating a lack of public interest.
To add to the embarrassment, Congress leaders had expected a large crowd and set up a large LED screen outside the venue, along with chairs for attendees who couldn’t enter. Surprisingly, as Rahul Gandhi commenced his speech, very few people were seated in front of the screen.
The contrast with Rahul Gandhi's January 18 visit was notable. On that day, he attended a Constitution Protection Conference organized by NGOs and Muslim groups at Bapu Sabhagar, Patna's largest venue with a capacity of 5,000. That event attracted a full house, with entry regulated via passes and a crowd forming outside.
While Wednesday's event was intended to demonstrate the Congress party's commitment to honoring its leaders, it instead highlighted the party's shortcomings, from ineffective mobilization to significant blunders by its leadership.
As the Congress party prepares for forthcoming elections, Rahul Gandhi's visit to Patna serves as a stark reminder of the necessity for the party to rejuvenate its grassroots connections and engage with the voters of Bihar.
