INDIAN opposition leader Rahul Gandhi averted a possible injury on Monday (27) when a portion of a stage where he was standing for campaigning for his Indian National Congress party and Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc with some other leaders crumbled.
The incident happened in Paliganj on the outskirts of Patna, the capital of the eastern state of Bihar, to canvass support for Misa Bharti, a leader of ally Rashtriya Janata Dal who is contesting from the state's Pataliputra parliamentary constituency which will go to polls on June 1.
Bharti, daughter of RJD supremo and former federal minister Lalu Prasad, was also present when the stage caved in.
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A video surfaced on social media showing Gandhi and Bharti managing it well after the stage broke when they were holding their hands to greet their supporters in a show of unity. There were many other people on the stage, including security personnel who came to their rescue. As the leaders walked, another portion also collapsed slightly but Gandhi looked unfazed and was seen telling an official that he was alright.
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The political event then went as scheduled.
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, son of Lalu Prasad and former deputy chief minister Bihar, was also present and addressed the rally.
Gandhi in his speech reiterated the promise made by his party in its manifesto for the ongoing general elections.
He also launched an attack on the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and prime minister Narendra Modi, saying unemployment has gone up in their rule.
"Narendra Modi has turned Indian soldiers into labourers in the army," Gandhi, who is contesting this year's election from two constituencies, said.
He also exuded confidence that Modi will not become the prime minister again this year.
The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance is seeking a rare third consecutive term in this year's election while the INDIA bloc is aiming to prevent that from happening.
Fifty-eight seats will go to polls in the final phase of the election on June 1 while results will be announced on June 4.
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