Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Thursday joined her election victory celebrations at her home, waving to the cheering crowds that thronged her 10 Janpath residence in New Delhi.
In a less-than-a-minute appearance, Sonia walked into a makeshift barricade and stood on the footrest of a Tata Safari and waved to her supporters who were shouting "Long Live Sonia."
Wearing a printed black salwar suit, she walked back to her home after the brief appearance, refusing a byte to TV crews on her election sweep in the Rae Bareli bypoll.
The 10 Janpath surroundings erupted into celebrations the moment TV channels began beaming news of a comfortable lead for the Congress president in the May 8 byelection.
Drum beats echoed through the street, closed to traffic, as hundreds of party activists marched from its one end to the other in ecstatic celebrations.
Supporters set off fire crackers and littered Akbar Road with flower petals while celebrating the victory of their leader who had stepped down as Lok Sabha member over the office-of-profit controversy.
The crowds became louder and music blared from speakers mounted on motorcars as fresh trends poured in from Rae Bareli.