New excitement. Boys selling boiled peanuts, five rupees for a paper cone, have slipped in and are doing brisk business. Many are disappointed when they realise this is not a Congress freebie.
On the stage, brownie points are being earned. There is every effort to mention the rally's organiser and president of the Mumbai Congress, Kripa Shankar Singh. "Last time, under Gurudas Kamat, you sent five Congress MPs to Parliament. This time, under Kripa Shankar, you must send six."
Revolutionary Party of India leader, Ramdas Athavle, who has maintained his alliance with the Congress for the 2009 election, takes the mike. He starts off in Marathi and suddenly slips into uncomfortable Hindi.
"Narendra Modi has destroyed Gujarat -- Gujarat ka satyanash kiya hai. Now, this murderer comes here and says he will make Maharashtra into Gujarat." Finally, the crowd stirs in mild response.
He explains to the crowd, "Only the UPA (Congress-led United Progressive Alliance) can build a Ram Mandir because we are secular. You will never become the prime minister, Advani. That is something you can only chase in your dreams."
The crowd is listening now. "We want to make India strong, secular and united… Madam is coming." It is an unexpected deviation and everyone looks around expectantly.
Athavle stands on stage for another 10 minutes, but does not say another word.
Image: Congress supporters at the rally
Also see: 'My frustration and agony made me join politics' | India Votes 2009
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