Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’s culmination in Mumbai on Saturday turned out to be a big booster for the Congress rank and file ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, that were declared a couple of hours before their leader arrived in central Mumbai. Gandhi was joined by his sister, Priyanka, for the final leg. Moving on the city’s crowded LBS Road in an open red jeep, the duo was received with visible warmth by their supporters from the eastern suburbs to Dharavi, a mini India their father had visited many moons ago.

With the INDIA bloc on display, the Maha Vikas Aghadi partners, the Shiv Sena (UBT) and Nationalist Congress Party (SP) were enthusiastic in welcoming the Congress leader, who travelled  6,700 km from Manipur to Mumbai, the party’s stronghold of yesteryears. The MVA has pledged to defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA in the 48-seat Maharashtra, a crucial state for PM Narendra Modi’s third run to the premier throne.