The first day first show of YSR Congress party honorary president Y S Vijayalakshmi can be considered a big hit, going by the crowds she had pulled to her election meeting at Narasannapet in Srikakulam district.

Vijayamma made every effort to strike the sympathy cord by telling the people how the Congress leaders were rejoicing over her heart burn.

“My husband had introduced several schemes for the welfare of poor people after watching their plight during his padayatra before 2004 elections. And he had lost his life while he was on his way to Rachchabanda programme to see how the schemes were being implemented. The Congress party has dishonoured him by harassing my son and my family,” she said.

In a bid to gain more sympathy from the people, Vijayamma took her daughter Sharmila and daughter in law Bharati with her to the road show to convey the message that they were orphaned and were forced to take to streets because of the arrest of her son. “Teach the Congress party a fitting lesson by voting for the ceiling fan,” she appealed.

The YSR Congress party leaders took every care to see that the road show was a tremendous success. It remains to be seen how this success is translated into votes in the by-elections.