Empty chairs greet Congress rally in Assam's Goalpara as leaders arrive hours late

A Congress election rally in Assam's Goalpara turned into a poorly attended event on April 4, with rows of empty chairs greeting senior leaders who arrived hours behind schedule.

 

The rally, organised at the Rakshasini F.R. High School playground in support of Congress candidate A.K. Rashid Alam, was attended by senior leaders including Rakibul Hussain, Imran Pratapgarhi and former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel.

 

Despite the presence of high-profile campaigners, the rally witnessed a poor turnout, with most attendees leaving the venue due to significant delays. The programme, initially scheduled to begin at 11 am, was first postponed to 12 noon, but leaders eventually arrived only around 2:30 pm.

 

By the time they reached the venue, a large section of the crowd had already dispersed, leaving behind empty chairs and a visibly subdued atmosphere.

 

Locals cited mismanagement and lack of coordination as key reasons for the situation, stating that the prolonged delay led to frustration among attendees who had been waiting for hours.

 

The incident has provided political ammunition to rival parties ahead of the elections, raising questions over the Congress party’s organisational preparedness and campaign strategy in the constituency.

 

Observers noted that such developments could impact the campaign momentum of candidate A.K. Rashid Alam, especially at a crucial time ahead of the polls.