Congress President Rahul Gandhi today filed his nomination from the second constituency, Wayanad, Kerala, which is considered a ‘safe seat’ for Rahul Gandhi. He reached Calicut last night to file his nomination for Wayanad where he is expected to win safely as against Amethi where he faces a tough challenge from BJP’s Smriti Irani.
Rahul Gandhi was accompanied by his sister and Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi in his helicopter ride from Calicut to Wayanad.
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A sting operation conducted by Times Now had thrown up some startling admissions by a Congress MLA regarding why Rahul Gandhi would be choosing Wayanad as his safe seat. In the sting video, a senior Congress Party leader could be seen saying Congress President Rahul Gandhi is facing pressure in Amethi and has to find a safe seat, implying that he should contest from Wayanad as Hindus form a minority in Wayanad constituency which will ensure an easy victory for Rahul Gandhi.
“The total Christian-Muslim vote is about 50%. It comes to around 54% which makes easier for Rahul. And the thing is there are 8% Adivasis who are with us. Actually, Wayanad has been a Congress stronghold since 1957,” said the Congress leader in Times Now sting video. He also spoke about the Tribal votes that would go in Rahul Gandhi’s favour (and hence the jump from 50% to 54% in his previous statement).
Meanwhile, CPI(M) ex-General Secretary Prakash Karat cried foul over Congress President Rahul Gandhi’s candidacy from Wayanad, Kerala. Karat claimed that the Congress party’s decision indicated that the party’s priority has now become to fight the Left, contrary to Congress’ national commitment to fight BJP.
“To pick a candidate like Rahul Gandhi against Left means that Congress is going to target the Left in Kerala. This is something which we will strongly oppose & in this election we will work to ensure the defeat of Rahul Gandhi in Wayanad,” lamented Prakash Karat.