Crackers to welcome Rahul drown Sonia's farewell

Barely into her farewell address, former Congress President Sonia Gandhi had to halt her speech as incessant bursting of fire crackers drowned her voice.

"I can't speak...I have to shout … if I shout my voice goes," Sonia remarked as enthusiastic party workers broke into celebrations soon after Rahul Gandhi was formally declared Congress President.

A visibly annoyed Sonia waited for a while and then resumed her speech, but the bursting of crackers continued.

"Again it has started," Sonia remarked, sending senior leaders scrambling.

AICC General Secretary Janardan Dwivedi, who was conducting the proceedings, sought permission of Sonia to use the microphone to appeal to Seva Dal volunteers to stop the  bursting of crackers immediately.

From the audience, Sonia's political secretary, Seva Dal chief organiser Mahendra Joshi and other senior leaders swung into action to restore some order to the proceedings.

Rahul walked up to Sonia, who was seen drinking some water to ease her throat.