Rain accompanied by winds that lashed the city for more than an hour not only delayed the programme but also forced State and Central leaders to cut short their speeches at the Bapuji MBA College grounds. While Mallikarjun Kharge and Ghulam Nabi Azad cut short their speeches, Ministers H.K. Patil and D.K. Shivakumar, and senior leader Oscar Fernandes did not speak.
The rain uprooted pandals and hoardings at the venue. While some participants used chairs to cover their heads from the rain, some used banners and buntings.