advertisement
Addressing the media after filing his nomination from the Wayanad constituency in Kerala on Thursday, 4 April, Congress President Rahul Gandhi said he was "not going to say a word against the CPM" in his entire campaign.
The Congress chief further said that he had come to Kerala to send a message that India is one.
The Congress leader also held a roadshow in the Kerala constituency on Thursday, accompanied by his sister Priyanka Gandhi.
Notably, the Congress' announcement that the party chief would contest from Wayanad had evoked sharp reactions from the Left and Right of the political spectrum.
The CPI(M) and CPI had said the move signalled the Congress wanted to take on the Left, which would work towards defeating him in the elections from Wayanad.
Ahead of Gandhi filing his nomination, Union Minister Smriti Irani, who would be contesting against the former from Amethi, had said:
BJP chief Amit Shah had reacted to the development saying Gandhi has "fled to Kerala as he fears that Amethi voters will seek an account from him".
Addressing a rally in Wardha, Maharashtra, on Monday, the prime minister said the Congress is scared to field its leaders from constituencies where the majority dominates in terms of voter-base. He, however, did not name Gandhi.
Gandhi had arrived in Kozhikode on Wednesday night to a tumultuous welcome by hundreds of party workers.
The Congress president was received by senior party leaders Ramesh Chennithala, Oommen Chandy, Mullappally Ramachandran, as well as Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leaders PK Kunhalikutty and ET Muhammed Basheer.
Priyanka Gandhi, who came separately, had reached Kozhikode shortly before her brother arrived.
Earlier, on Tuesday, Rahul Gandhi had claimed people in South India "feel hostility" from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said he decided to contest from Wayanad in Kerala to send out the message that he stands with them.
"So, I wanted to send a message to South India that we are with you and I am standing with you. That is why I am standing from Kerala," he had said in response to a question after the launch of the party's manifesto.
The Congress had announced on 31 March that Gandhi will contest from the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency in Kerala, besides his traditional stronghold of Amethi in Uttar Pradesh.
(With inputs from PTI)
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)
Published: 02 Apr 2019,10:48 PM IST