BJP-INLD rallyists leave venue during Advani speech

Sonepat (Haryana), Nov 1 (IANS) Thousands of people at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) - Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) rally here began to leave as soon as BJP's prime ministerial candidate L.K. Advani began addressing the gathering Saturday.

Advani was the last political leader to address the rally, which was being held at Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) ground at Sonepat town, and his turn to speak came at about 3.

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30 p.m.

The rallyists suddenly stood up and began to walk away when Advani came to address them.

Sensing trouble, former Haryana chief minister and INLD leader Om Parkash Chautala requested the rallyists to sit down.

But people continued leaving the ground despite the repeated requests of party workers.

Various leaders including BJP president Rajnath Singh, senior BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Chautala, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Janata Dal (U) leader Sharad Yadav addressed the rally before Advani.

'I am sitting in this ground since 10 a.m. and have not eaten anything since then. Moreover I have to return to Hisar town and have to walk a distance of at least six kilometres to reach the bus stop,' said Parkash Ram Lochab, who had travelled around 120 km to attend the rally.

'We consider this rally a big success for INLD-BJP alliance. Thousands of spectators had come from all the districts of Haryana to attend this massive rally which is the first public address by BJP-INLD alliance that happened a few weeks back,' an INLD spokesperson told IANS later.