Bareilly (UP), Sept 21 (ZEENEWS.COM) A motley crowd in Gandhi caps, party colours and everyday wear mostly from rural areas of this Muslim-dominated constituency today made their way to Congress president Sonia Gandhi`s rally here.

Though a little disappointed by the absence of Amethi MP Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Vadra, they lined both sides of the road and cheered the AICC chief as her cavalcade arrived.

She got down from her vehicle, shook hands with children and accepted garlands, giving a scare to her security.

The party flag was seen fluttering atop houses, shops and business establishment as the crowd comprising a large number of women and Muslims thronged government inter college ground for the "Nav Nirman" rally.

The venue, which can hold over one lakh people, was filled to capacity, Congress leader Sanjay Singh who organised the function said.

Die-hard loyalists stood out in the crowd, coming dressed in white and in Congress colours while skull caps worn by Muslims were also evident.

A major attraction was a rickshaw, painted in party colours and with the flag fixed on it.

Eighty-one-year-old hafiz Usman from Tilhar constituency came with his family of nine, from the young to the elderly, and spoke about his loyalty to the party since the old days.

"I have been a congress supporter since the time of India`s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru," he said

Anticipating a huge turnout, the district administration had ordered closure of educational institution in Bareilly

Congress leaders said the turnout was reflective of the "party`s rising graph in the state".