Black Flag waved by 15 Sena persons...Thousands welcomed-Rahul Gandhi

"While 15 Shiv Sena activists waved black flags against me, thousands in Mumbai welcomed me. The visit was a huge success," said AICC General Secretary and MP Rahul Gandhi, who surprised everyone in the Kerala State Congress unit with his unexpected visit.

After attending function in Puducheri on Friday, he stayed there in the night and flew to Kochi via Chennai. At Chennai Airport Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) President, Mr.K V Thangabalu met Gandhi and discussed about state party election.

On Friday, Gandhi rode in a local train in Mumbai and withdrew money from an ATM near the station, winning over the people of the city. Shiv Sena activists waved black flags to protest his visit.

Gandhi arrived in Kochi, in Kerala, by a special flight around 11.10 am, and drove straight to the Kerala Students Union (KSU), the student's wing of the Congress party, camp here.

He asked three student leaders to speak first. After hearing them, the Congress leader said he would carry their message to Delhi.

One of the suggestions that came up at the meeting was that the next time the Congress-led alliance rules the state; the education portfolio should be kept by the Congress party and not given to the allies.

He assured in the meeting that the next time he visits the state he will visit Kannur to address the students.

He was at the meeting for more than an hour.

On his way back to the airport, he gave the security people some anxious moments when he stopped and interacted with the waiting crowd. For 10-year-old Shaful, it was an exciting moment when he presented Rahul Gandhi with a flower and in return got his autograph.

Later, when asked what Gandhi said to him, Shaful told reporters that Rahul Gandhi had advised him to study well.

Gandhi returned to Delhi in the afternoon.

- Asian Tribune -