Wayanad: Congress president Rahul Gandhi took Wayanad by storm on Thursday as he filed his nomination for the Lok Sabha elections, asserting that he had come to the south with the message of India’s unity and assuring the Left that they are not his main rival.
Thousands of UDF supporters went into raptures as Mr Gandhi, along with AICC general secretary (UP East) Priyanka Gandhi and other Congress leaders, filed his nomination before district collector Ajayakumar A.R. at Kalpetta. A massive road show ensued, with thousands of UDF supporters braving the scorching sun to cheer the bandwagon of Mr Gandhi, Ms Priyanka Vadra, AICC general secretary Oomm-en Chandy, Opposition leader Ramesh Chenn-ithala, KPCC president Mullappally Ramach-andran, Muslim League leaders and candidates P.K. Kunhalikutty and E.T. Mohammed Basheer.
In the Congress sitting seat, Mr Gandhi is locked in a triangular contest with LDF candidate P.P. Suneer (CPI) and NDA’s Tushar Vellapaly, the state president of pro-Ezhava Bharat Dharma Jana Sena. The elections are on April 23.
Later, Mr Gandhi addressed a press conference, reasoning his choice of the southern seat besides Amethi, although he would be pitted by the LDF, which is part of the secular line-up at the national level. He said he was fighting from the north as well as the south to counter attempts by the BJP and its ideological mentor Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
“The idea of India is under attack in the Modi regime and there is a feeling of exclusion among the people of south, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. I felt there is an assault against the idea of unity,” he told reporters at the SKMJ Higher Secondary School before boarding the helicopter to go to Karipur airport. “I am contesting from here with a message to the country that I stand for South India as well as North India,” he said.
He also allayed the fears in the Left camp and declared, “From me, you will not hear a word against the CPM.”
Referring to the CPM campaign against him, he said, “There is a tussle between the Congress and the CPM, and that battle may continue in future, but I am here to tell the people of Kerala that while I will defend all the allegations made by CPM about me, I will not be making a single attack on the CPM. You will not hear a word against the CPM from me,” said Mr Gandhi.
To questions on allegations by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath that he was fleeing the north, Mr Gandhi said he was not concerned about what they say. “The two main issues facing the country today are the lack of jobs and the plight of farmers. Farmers do not have a good perspective of what the future holds for them... the youth were going from state to state in search of jobs. Modi has failed in ensuring jobs and also failed the farmers,” he said.
“The country had faith in the prime minister when he said ‘I will be the chowkidar.’ But the chowkidar himself has given Anil Ambani Rs 30,000 crore of Air Force money. He has stolen the money and given it to Anil Ambani,” he said.
“Anil Ambani has no experience in making aircraft and he has Rs 45,000-crore debt. He almost went to jail and his brother had to bail him out. Why this man was given the most important defence contract in the country?" he asked.
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