LS Polls 2019: Rahul Gandhi Picks Kerala’s Wayanad as Second Seat

Congress party President Rahul Gandhi.

(Photo: Reuters)

Congress President Rahul Gandhi will contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections from two constituencies – Uttar Pradesh’s Amethi and Kerala’s Wayanad.

Making the announcement on Sunday, 31 March, senior Congress leader AK Anthony said that Gandhi there were “several requests for Rahul to contest from Wayanad.”

When asked why Gandhi has chosen to contest from another seat, and whether he was not confident of winning from Amethi, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said:

“Then you should also ask why Narendra Modi ran away from Gujarat to Benaras? Was the situation in Gujarat not good? This is immature. Why is the BJP so scared? She(Smriti Irani) will complete a hattrick of losses.”

Randeep Surjewala, Congress Spokesperson

This is the first time Rahul will contest from two Lok Sabha seats.

Why Wayanad?

The Wayanad seat was formed in 2009 and is considered a stronghold of the Congress party.

Surjewala asserted the "geographical importance" of Wayanad and said that the decision was taken to fight the "discriminatory" attitude of the BJP towards the southern states in India.

The seat was won by former Kerala Congress President MI Shanawaz in 2009 and 2014 and fell vacant after he passed away in 2018.

‘Gandhi Contesting from Wayanad to Fight Left’

Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan claimed Rahul Gandhi’s decision to contest from Wayanad was a fight against the Left.

“He's fighting in one of the 20 constituencies (in Kerala) and doesn't need to be seen as any different. We'll fight him. He should've contested from a constituency where BJP is contesting. It is nothing but a fight against the Left,” said Vijayan.

CPI (M) ex-general secretary Prakash Karat said that Gandhi’s decision showed his priority to fight the Left.

“The decision of Congress to field Rahul Gandhi from Wayanad shows their priority now is to fight against the Left in Kerala. It goes against Congress' national commitment to fight BJP, as in Kerala it's LDF which is the main force fighting BJP there,” said Karat.