Rahul Gandhi's convoy holds up traffic for five hours

MANDYA: Sowmya muttered curses under her breath as she waited for over half an hour to cross the Mysore-Bangalore highway with her children on Sunday. The homemaker could do little else as she waited for AICC vice-president Rahul Gandhi's convoy to pass by.
Gandhi's roadshow in the district held up traffic for more than five hours. Security agencies, including the Special Protection Group, had drawn up a pattern his convoy's movement along the highway, which involved stopping traffic every half a kilometre.Police also completely cordoned off the highway and parts of tertiary roads connecting to it.
Security personnel reportedly failed to gauge the weekend rush on the highway.
Even ambulances had to make way for the convoy.
"How could security personnel stop us from crossing the highway? Politicians must understand that they cannot win the heart of voters by cordoning us off," complained Sowmya.
Gandhi's convoy entered Mandya district at 4.30pm at Nidasale and passed through Hemmanahalli Shivapura and Maddur. It entered Mandya city at 6.30pm. Chief minister Siddaramaiah accompanied the Congress leader all the way.