New Delhi: Congress president Rahul Gandhi, who is contesting from Wayanad Lok Sabha seat in Kerala in addition to his traditional stronghold of Amethi in Uttar Pradesh, filed his nomination around 11.30 AM on Thursday.
Flanked by sister and Congress Uttar Pradesh (East) in-charge Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, the party chief then embarked on a roadshow.
Party workers believe that the announcement of Gandhi’s candidature in Wayanad has enthused the people of the constituency and made a major difference in other states, including Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. “It will get reflected in the voting,” they say.
Speaking to reporters after concluding his roadshow, Rahul Gandhi explained his choice of Wayanad Lok Sabha seat, “I have come to Kerala to send a message that India is one, be it north, south, east or west. My aim is to send a message, there is a feeling in south India that the way Centre, Modi ji and RSS are working it is like an assault on culture and languages in the south.”
He also said, “I understand that my brothers and sisters in CPM will now speak against me and attack me, but I am not going to say a word against the CPM in my entire campaign.”
Tight security is in place in Kozhikode and Wayanad districts in view of the high-profile visits.
The Congress announced on Sunday that Gandhi would contest from Wayanad constituency, besides his traditional stronghold of Amethi.
Gandhi had earlier claimed that the people in South India “feel hostility” from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said he decided to contest from Wayanad to send out the message that he stands with them.
On the other hand, BJP national president Amit Shah will hold a roadshow in Andhra Pradesh on Thursday. Amit Shah will participate in the roadshow on Thursday in Visakhapatnam campaigning for party candidates in Visakhapatnam Lok Sabha and Assembly constituencies. BJP president Amit Shah will also address public meetings in Telangana starting from April 4. He will address people of Warangal and Karimnagar and conduct road shows at Nalagonda and Hyderabad on April 6.
Union Textiles Minister and BJP leader Smriti Irani also began her two-day visit to Amethi, the Lok Sabha constituency of Congress chief Rahul Gandhi on Thursday. Irani addressed a Kisan Rally in Parshedpur under the Amethi parliamentary constituency and lambasted Rahul Gandhi for “deserting, betraying and insulting Amethi by filing nomination from another seat in Kerala”.