What the members had, however, not anticipated was the frenzy that their newly enrolled member film star Ramya would generate. The actress literally overshadowed Rahul Gandhi. Many in the crowd were there only to meet Ramya and they went berserk when she started moving out of the venue. The actress clearly looked discomfited.

Chandrashekhar, a party worker, was enthused by the fact that he got to see Ramya from a close range.

“I can’t be more thrilled. My day is made. I am happy that I got to see Rahul Gandhi for the first time, but I am happier that I got to see Ramya. I am a big fan of hers and have watched all her movies. What’s more, she has joined our party. Hopefully, I will get a chance to interact with her in future,” gushed the 25-year-old from Ramanagara.

The actress, attired in white salwar kameez, made her entry to the venue an hour before Rahul arrived. Senior Congress leader D K Shivakumar and a host of security personnel had accompanied her.

She told reporters that being a new entrant to the Youth Congress, she had no intention of contesting the organisational elections.

“I am only supporting the party. There are many experienced people in the party. I am going to just work for the party. I admire Rahul Gandhi and hence I am supporting him,” she said.