Polling is underway for the third and largest phase of Lok Sabha election in 116 seats, including all constituencies in Gujarat and Kerala, with BJP president Amit Shah, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi and several Union ministers among prominent candidates in the fray.

High-Octane 'Phase 3' of Lok Sabha election 2019 battle underway

In Phase 3 of Lok Sabha Election 2019, Voting is underway on 14 out of 28 seats of Karnataka. BS Yeddyurappa talked WION and said he is confident of son's victory.

Lok Sabha Election 2019: BS Yeddyurappa confident of son's victory in Karnataka

Voting for 302 seats out of 543 seats is about to end. 23.65% polling has been done as of 11 AM IST. Watch complete video to know more.

Lok Sabha Election 2019: Voting for 302 out of 543 seats to end, 23.65% polling as of 11 AM IST

Attacking <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/lok-sabha-polls-ndas-wayanad-candidate-demands-review-of-rahul-gandhis-nomination-from-constituency-212367">Congress president Rahul Gandhi</a>, Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday urged the people here to vote for BDJS candidate Tushar Vellappally and send across a message to Delhi and Amethi that "you do not want failed MP coming and parachuting into Wayanad."

"Kerala should set an example. What happened during the floods? How much Wayanad suffered? A flood which only if were carefully managed by the LDP government. The Chief Minister should take personal responsibility for not having opened dams on time because of which the people suffered. The flood was totally avoidable," she said.

"Therefore, please vote for BDJS candidate Tushar Vellappally and send a message out of Kerala clearly heard till Delhi and Amethi - We want people from here. We do not want failed MP coming and parachuting into Wayanad," Sitharaman said while addressing a rally here.

"Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru had said about the Muslim League that it is a dead horse. Today, his great-grandson comes to ride on the back of that dead horse. What an irony and Wayanad you are a witness to this irony. Do you want this? We do not want this," she said.

Sitharaman also invited the people of Wayanad to "see development works in Amethi."

"It remains one of the most backward areas of Uttar Pradesh... Wayanad needs development. It needs to develop quickly," he said.

"Wayanad needs a visionary Prime Minister to help the constituency," she said.

Sitharaman also slammed the Left Front.

"The hypocrisy that I want to highlight here is - When Rahul Gandhi was chosen by the Congress party to contest from Wayanad, the top leadership of the Left Front said that the Congress party has chosen Rahul Gandhi because they want to treat us in Kerala as their principal operant. We shall not tolerate this. We shall work to defeat him," she said.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Attacking Congress president Rahul Gandhi, Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday urged the people here to vote for BDJS candidate Tushar Vellappally and send across a message to Delhi and Amethi that "you do not want failed MP coming and parachuting into Wayanad.

Attacking Congress president Rahul Gandhi, Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday urged the people here to vote for BDJS candidate Tushar Vellappally and send across a message to Delhi and Amethi that "you do not want failed MP coming and parachuting into Wayanad." "Kerala should set an example. What happened during the floods? How much Wayanad suffered? A flood which only if were carefully managed by the LDP government. The Chief Minister should take personal responsibility for not having opened dams on time because of which the people suffered. The flood was totally avoidable," she said. "Therefore, please vote for BDJS candidate Tushar Vellappally and send a message out of Kerala clearly heard till Delhi and Amethi - We want people from here. We do not want failed MP coming and parachuting into Wayanad," Sitharaman said while addressing a rally here. "Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru had said about the Muslim League that it is a dead horse. Today, his great-grandson comes to ride on the back of that dead horse. What an irony and Wayanad you are a witness to this irony. Do you want this? We do not want this," she said. Sitharaman also invited the people of Wayanad to "see development works in Amethi." "It remains one of the most backward areas of Uttar Pradesh... Wayanad needs development. It needs to develop quickly," he said. "Wayanad needs a visionary Prime Minister to help the constituency," she said. Sitharaman also slammed the Left Front. "The hypocrisy that I want to highlight here is - When Rahul Gandhi was chosen by the Congress party to contest from Wayanad, the top leadership of the Left Front said that the Congress party has chosen Rahul Gandhi because they want to treat us in Kerala as their principal operant. We shall not tolerate this. We shall work to defeat him," she said.

Don't want failed MP coming to Wayanad: Nirmala Sitharaman slams Rahul Gandhi

National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate from Wayanad, T Vellappally, on Sunday asked Kerala Chief Electoral Officer to review Congress president Rahul Gandhi's nomination from the constituency.&nbsp;

Vellappally said that Rahul Gandhi, in his nomination, didn't mention that he possesses a passport of another country.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Wayanad NDA candidate T Vellappally further writes "I request you to review the acceptance of nomination of Rahul Gandhi in Wayanad constituency to check for validity &amp; reject the application." <a href="https://t.co/TllobUSFUn">https://t.co/TllobUSFUn</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1119956930863280129?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 21, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

"It's understood that Rahul Gandhi is having a passport of a foreign country also. He didn't disclose this in the nomination filed or in the affidavit," Vellappally told reporters.&nbsp;

"I request you to review the acceptance of the nomination of Rahul Gandhi in Wayanad constituency to check for validity and reject the application," he added.&nbsp;

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 nomination for Wayanad earlier this month.

Gandhi was accompanied by his sister and AICC in-charge of eastern Uttar Pradesh Priyanka Gandhi and senior Congress leaders including K C Venugopal and Mukul Wasnik. He submitted the papers before the District Collector AR Ajayakumar at the district headquarters in Wayanad.

National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate from Wayanad, T Vellappally, on Sunday asked Kerala Chief Electoral Officer to review Congress president Rahul Gandhi's nomination from the constituency.

National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate from Wayanad, T Vellappally, on Sunday asked Kerala Chief Electoral Officer to review Congress president Rahul Gandhi's nomination from the constituency. Vellappally said that Rahul Gandhi, in his nomination, didn't mention that he possesses a passport of another country. Wayanad NDA candidate T Vellappally further writes "I request you to review the acceptance of nomination of Rahul Gandhi in Wayanad constituency to check for validity & reject the application." https://t.co/TllobUSFUn — ANI (@ANI) April 21, 2019 × "It's understood that Rahul Gandhi is having a passport of a foreign country also. He didn't disclose this in the nomination filed or in the affidavit," Vellappally told reporters. "I request you to review the acceptance of the nomination of Rahul Gandhi in Wayanad constituency to check for validity and reject the application," he added. 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 nomination for Wayanad earlier this month. Gandhi was accompanied by his sister and AICC in-charge of eastern Uttar Pradesh Priyanka Gandhi and senior Congress leaders including K C Venugopal and Mukul Wasnik. He submitted the papers before the District Collector AR Ajayakumar at the district headquarters in Wayanad.

Lok Sabha polls: NDA's Wayanad candidate demands review of Rahul Gandhi's nomination from constituency

Congress chief Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday reached out to the people of Wayanad, saying he did not want to make false promises, but was committed to resolving their issues after hearing their "heart and soul".

Taking a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Gandhi said he was not here to tell his 'Mann Ki Baat' but to understand the difficulties, including the night travel ban, man-animal conflicts and lack of medical facilities, being faced by the people here.

"I am not like the Prime Minister.. I am not here to tell you that I will give you 2 crore jobs, Rs 15 lakh in bank accounts. I will give farmers and give them whatever they want.. I am not going to lie to you.. Because I respect your intelligence.. Your wisdom," Gandhi told the gathering.

"I just don't want to have a relationship ofjust few months. I want a lifelong relationship with you. I want the sisters of Wayanad to say that I am like their brother, fathers and mothers to say that I am their son," he said.

The Congress chief said he wanted to represent Wayanad as the "beautiful place" symbolises different ideas, cultures and that the rest of the country can learn from Kerala and Wayanad.

"Once I decided to fight election from south India, I realised that Wayanad was the best place. Because it represents many many different ideas, cultures... Kerala is an example of peaceful co-existence. There is a lot that the rest of the country can learn from Kerala and Wayanad," he said.

Gandhi said he decided to contest from South India to make a point that the voice of south is as "important" as rest of the country.

Congress chief Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday reached out to the people of Wayanad, saying he did not want to make false promises, but was committed to resolving their issues after hearing their "heart and soul".

Congress chief Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday reached out to the people of Wayanad, saying he did not want to make false promises, but was committed to resolving their issues after hearing their "heart and soul". Taking a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Gandhi said he was not here to tell his 'Mann Ki Baat' but to understand the difficulties, including the night travel ban, man-animal conflicts and lack of medical facilities, being faced by the people here. "I am not like the Prime Minister.. I am not here to tell you that I will give you 2 crore jobs, Rs 15 lakh in bank accounts. I will give farmers and give them whatever they want.. I am not going to lie to you.. Because I respect your intelligence.. Your wisdom," Gandhi told the gathering. "I just don't want to have a relationship ofjust few months. I want a lifelong relationship with you. I want the sisters of Wayanad to say that I am like their brother, fathers and mothers to say that I am their son," he said. The Congress chief said he wanted to represent Wayanad as the "beautiful place" symbolises different ideas, cultures and that the rest of the country can learn from Kerala and Wayanad. "Once I decided to fight election from south India, I realised that Wayanad was the best place. Because it represents many many different ideas, cultures... Kerala is an example of peaceful co-existence. There is a lot that the rest of the country can learn from Kerala and Wayanad," he said. Gandhi said he decided to contest from South India to make a point that the voice of south is as "important" as rest of the country.

Not here to make false promises: Rahul Gandhi in Kerala

Congress chief Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday performed the 'bali tharpanam' ritual for his late father and other ancestors on the banks of the 'Papanasini' in Wayanad, nearly three decades after the ashes of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi were immersed in the sacred stream.

Gandhi, who is on a whirlwind two-day tour in Kerala as part of Lok Sabha poll campaign, took time off his hectic schedule to offer prayers at the famed Thirunelli temple and performed the sacred ritual to pay obeisance to the ancestors of seven generations.

Known as the "Kashi of South", the Thirunelli temple, located in a picturesque valley surrounded by mountains and thick forest, is dedicated to Lord Maha Vishnu.

According to Hindu belief, performing the 'bali tharpanam' (paying obeisance to departed souls) ritual for ancestors in the 'Papanasini', the stream attached to the forest temple, is sacred.

Gandhi, who is contesting polls from the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency also this time, besides his family bastion Amethi, arrived at the forest temple in a helicopter, accompanied by his party leaders, in the morning.

Wearing a traditional dhoti and draping a 'kasavu' (silk) shawl, the 49-year-old leader prostrated before the sanctum sanctorum and offered 'kanikka' in the temple 'hundi'.

After having a brief conversation with the priest about the rituals and traditions of the ancient shrine, Gandhi proceeded to the sacred stream, located about 700 metres from there.

The security officials had a tough time leading the bare-footed leader through the undulating terrain, paved with huge rocks and boulders, inside the thick forest, notorious for Maoist presence.

Television visuals showed Gandhi listening as the priest chanted the mantras and followed his instructions to perform the 'tharpanam'.

Besides the rituals for Rajiv Gandhi, rites for Indira Gandhi, former prime minister and Rahul Gandhi's grandmother, were also held.

Gandhi spent around 45 minutes at the hill shrine before leaving for a party meeting at the Sultan Bathery, around 45 km from Thirunelli.

"Besides Rajiv and Indira, the AICC chief performed the ritual for the jawans who lost lives in the Pulwama terror strike and lakhs of party workers who have died," Congress leader K C Venugopal, who was among those who accompanied Gandhi, later told reporters.

Former chief minister Oommen Chandy said Rahul Gandhi had expressed keen interest to offer prayers at the shrine during his last visit to Wayanad.

"We could not make it last time when he came to submit the nomination papers on April 4 due to security reasons," he said.

"Gandhi really wanted to visit the shrine and perform the ritual at Papanasini, where his father's ashes were immersed," Chandy added.

An urn containing the ashes of Rajiv Gandhi was brought here in 1991 and they were immersed in the Papanasini, which translates to 'destroyer of sins'.

Rajiv Gandhi was killed in a suicide bomb blast at Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu on May 21, 1991 during an election campaign.

Surrounded by the Kambamala, Karimala and the Varadiga peaks, the Thirunelli temple near Mananthavady embodies traditional Kerala architecture, according to the Kerala Tourism Department website.

The shrine, nestled in the scenic mountains, is shielded by 30 granite columns and the ground is paved with huge square pieces of granite.

Gandhi, who addressed four poll rallies on Tuesday, would address party workers in Palakkad and Malappuram besides Wayanad on Wednesday.

&nbsp;

Congress chief Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday performed the 'bali tharpanam' ritual for his late father and other ancestors on the banks of the 'Papanasini' in Wayanad, nearly three decades after the ashes of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi were immersed in the sacred stream.

Congress chief Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday performed the 'bali tharpanam' ritual for his late father and other ancestors on the banks of the 'Papanasini' in Wayanad, nearly three decades after the ashes of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi were immersed in the sacred stream. Gandhi, who is on a whirlwind two-day tour in Kerala as part of Lok Sabha poll campaign, took time off his hectic schedule to offer prayers at the famed Thirunelli temple and performed the sacred ritual to pay obeisance to the ancestors of seven generations. Known as the "Kashi of South", the Thirunelli temple, located in a picturesque valley surrounded by mountains and thick forest, is dedicated to Lord Maha Vishnu. According to Hindu belief, performing the 'bali tharpanam' (paying obeisance to departed souls) ritual for ancestors in the 'Papanasini', the stream attached to the forest temple, is sacred. Gandhi, who is contesting polls from the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency also this time, besides his family bastion Amethi, arrived at the forest temple in a helicopter, accompanied by his party leaders, in the morning. Wearing a traditional dhoti and draping a 'kasavu' (silk) shawl, the 49-year-old leader prostrated before the sanctum sanctorum and offered 'kanikka' in the temple 'hundi'. After having a brief conversation with the priest about the rituals and traditions of the ancient shrine, Gandhi proceeded to the sacred stream, located about 700 metres from there. The security officials had a tough time leading the bare-footed leader through the undulating terrain, paved with huge rocks and boulders, inside the thick forest, notorious for Maoist presence. Television visuals showed Gandhi listening as the priest chanted the mantras and followed his instructions to perform the 'tharpanam'. Besides the rituals for Rajiv Gandhi, rites for Indira Gandhi, former prime minister and Rahul Gandhi's grandmother, were also held. Gandhi spent around 45 minutes at the hill shrine before leaving for a party meeting at the Sultan Bathery, around 45 km from Thirunelli. "Besides Rajiv and Indira, the AICC chief performed the ritual for the jawans who lost lives in the Pulwama terror strike and lakhs of party workers who have died," Congress leader K C Venugopal, who was among those who accompanied Gandhi, later told reporters. Former chief minister Oommen Chandy said Rahul Gandhi had expressed keen interest to offer prayers at the shrine during his last visit to Wayanad. "We could not make it last time when he came to submit the nomination papers on April 4 due to security reasons," he said. "Gandhi really wanted to visit the shrine and perform the ritual at Papanasini, where his father's ashes were immersed," Chandy added. An urn containing the ashes of Rajiv Gandhi was brought here in 1991 and they were immersed in the Papanasini, which translates to 'destroyer of sins'. Rajiv Gandhi was killed in a suicide bomb blast at Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu on May 21, 1991 during an election campaign. Surrounded by the Kambamala, Karimala and the Varadiga peaks, the Thirunelli temple near Mananthavady embodies traditional Kerala architecture, according to the Kerala Tourism Department website. The shrine, nestled in the scenic mountains, is shielded by 30 granite columns and the ground is paved with huge square pieces of granite. Gandhi, who addressed four poll rallies on Tuesday, would address party workers in Palakkad and Malappuram besides Wayanad on Wednesday.

Lok Sabha polls: Rahul Gandhi's temple run in Kerala's Wayanad

India Election Watch: Rahul Gandhi files nomination from Wayanad

In this year's Lok Sabha elections, some key political battles will determine the fates of many political bigwigs. Among these is the battle royale in Amethi, a small town but holds big political relevance.

Amethi has been the bastion and Lok Sabha constituency of Congress president Rahul Gandhi since 2004. However, his victory margin suffered a major blow when the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) fielded Smriti Irani to take on the Gandhi scion in the 2014 Lok Sabha election from the turf of Nehru-Gandhi family in Uttar Pradesh.

Rahul Gandhi has won three consecutive Lok Sabha elections from Amethi in 2004, 2009 and 2014. While his victory margin in 2004 and 2007 were 2,90,853 and 3,70,198, respectively, it was merely 1,07,903 against Smriti Irani in 2014 Lok Sabha elections, when the BJP was riding on Narendra Modi wave. The close fight showed that Smriti Irani had managed to corner Rahul Gandhi and delivered some crunching blows.

And this year too, the BJP has fielded Amriti Irani from Amethi to take on Rahul Gandhi.

Though Smriti Irani could not win the elections, she made a promise to people of Amethi that she would not turn her back. And since then, the Union minister has been launching a slew of projects and schemes in a bid to turn the fortunes of the people hailing from the Gandhi bastion.

The actress-turned-politician has also been making several trips to Amethi. During one of her visits, in November 2018, Smriti had inaugurated and laid foundation stones of projects of various schemes worth Rs 77 crore. And not just this, the Union minister has promised that by 2022, every family in Amethi will have a house and each household will have electricity.

The Congress, meanwhile, announced that Rahul Gandhi will also contest from Wayanad in Kerala. The announcement gave ammunition to BJP who accused Rahul of running away because he has not fulfilled the promises he made to the people of Amethi. But the Congress president hit back claiming that 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.

Wayanad district is in the north eastern part of Kerala and houses various tribal groups of the state. The area was badly affected due to last year's floods. The Congress is hoping to further consolidate its position this time in Kerala.

Top Congress leaders have contested from the South earlier as well.

The 2014 Lok Sabha election witnessed a fierce contest in Amethi between Smriti Irani and Rahul Gandhi. And with the BJP deciding to retain her candidature in 2019 as well, it will certainly be one of the most dramatic battles to be fought during the Lok Sabha election.

In this year's Lok Sabha elections, some key political battles will determine the fates of many political bigwigs. Among these is the battle royale in Amethi, a small town but holds big political relevance.

In this year's Lok Sabha elections, some key political battles will determine the fates of many political bigwigs. Among these is the battle royale in Amethi, a small town but holds big political relevance. Amethi has been the bastion and Lok Sabha constituency of Congress president Rahul Gandhi since 2004. However, his victory margin suffered a major blow when the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) fielded Smriti Irani to take on the Gandhi scion in the 2014 Lok Sabha election from the turf of Nehru-Gandhi family in Uttar Pradesh. Rahul Gandhi has won three consecutive Lok Sabha elections from Amethi in 2004, 2009 and 2014. While his victory margin in 2004 and 2007 were 2,90,853 and 3,70,198, respectively, it was merely 1,07,903 against Smriti Irani in 2014 Lok Sabha elections, when the BJP was riding on Narendra Modi wave. The close fight showed that Smriti Irani had managed to corner Rahul Gandhi and delivered some crunching blows. And this year too, the BJP has fielded Amriti Irani from Amethi to take on Rahul Gandhi. Though Smriti Irani could not win the elections, she made a promise to people of Amethi that she would not turn her back. And since then, the Union minister has been launching a slew of projects and schemes in a bid to turn the fortunes of the people hailing from the Gandhi bastion. The actress-turned-politician has also been making several trips to Amethi. During one of her visits, in November 2018, Smriti had inaugurated and laid foundation stones of projects of various schemes worth Rs 77 crore. And not just this, the Union minister has promised that by 2022, every family in Amethi will have a house and each household will have electricity. The Congress, meanwhile, announced that Rahul Gandhi will also contest from Wayanad in Kerala. The announcement gave ammunition to BJP who accused Rahul of running away because he has not fulfilled the promises he made to the people of Amethi. But the Congress president hit back claiming that 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. Wayanad district is in the north eastern part of Kerala and houses various tribal groups of the state. The area was badly affected due to last year's floods. The Congress is hoping to further consolidate its position this time in Kerala. Top Congress leaders have contested from the South earlier as well. The 2014 Lok Sabha election witnessed a fierce contest in Amethi between Smriti Irani and Rahul Gandhi. And with the BJP deciding to retain her candidature in 2019 as well, it will certainly be one of the most dramatic battles to be fought during the Lok Sabha election.

Amethi's battle royale: Smriti Irani to take on Rahul Gandhi again

Congress president Rahul Gandhi, who is contesting from <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/keralas-wayanad-the-constituency-congress-chief-rahul-gandhi-fighting-from-207761">Wayanad Lok Sabha seat</a> in Kerala in addition to his traditional stronghold of Amethi in Uttar Pradesh, will file his nomination around 11.30 AM on Thursday, senior party leader Ramesh Chennithala said.

Senior Congress leader and AICC general secretary in charge of Kerala, Mukul Wasnik said Gandhi's sister and AICC in-charge of eastern Uttar Pradesh, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra would accompany him to Wayanad.

Rahul Gandhi arrived here Wednesday night to a tumultuous welcome by <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/rahul-gandhi-to-contest-from-wayanad-in-kerala-besides-amethi-206891">hundreds of party workers</a>.

Priyanka, who came separately, reached here shortly before her brother arrived.

A large number of young party workers holding Congress and ally Indian Union Muslim League flags were seen lustily cheering as Rahul Gandhi came out of the airport. He waved at them.&nbsp;

The Congress chief was received by Chennithala, Oommen Chandy, Mullappally Ramachandran, IUML leaders P K Kunhalikutty and E T Muhammed Basheer and others.

Later he and Priyanka left for the guest house through a secure route from the airport.

"Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka have already left for the guest house. Rahul might meet the senior leaders tonight. UDF workers are excited over his candidature," Chennithala said.

Chandy said Rahul's candidature in Wayanad will lead the UDF to a complete victory in the April 23 polls.

Rahul, who earlier in the day addressed a series of election meetings in Assam and Nagaland, reached Karipur Airport here around 9.30 PM.

After an overnight stay at the guest house here, the two leaders will leave for Wayanad Thursday morning.

"The Congress chief will embark on a massive roadshow at around 9.30 AM before filing the nomination papers," Chennithala said.

Wasnik claimed 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," he said.

Earlier, sources said the Congress chief would board a helicopter to Wayanad, about 90 km from here, to file his nomination.

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 has 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.&nbsp;

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, will file his nomination around 11.

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, will file his nomination around 11.30 AM on Thursday, senior party leader Ramesh Chennithala said. Senior Congress leader and AICC general secretary in charge of Kerala, Mukul Wasnik said Gandhi's sister and AICC in-charge of eastern Uttar Pradesh, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra would accompany him to Wayanad. Rahul Gandhi arrived here Wednesday night to a tumultuous welcome by hundreds of party workers. Priyanka, who came separately, reached here shortly before her brother arrived. A large number of young party workers holding Congress and ally Indian Union Muslim League flags were seen lustily cheering as Rahul Gandhi came out of the airport. He waved at them. The Congress chief was received by Chennithala, Oommen Chandy, Mullappally Ramachandran, IUML leaders P K Kunhalikutty and E T Muhammed Basheer and others. Later he and Priyanka left for the guest house through a secure route from the airport. "Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka have already left for the guest house. Rahul might meet the senior leaders tonight. UDF workers are excited over his candidature," Chennithala said. Chandy said Rahul's candidature in Wayanad will lead the UDF to a complete victory in the April 23 polls. Rahul, who earlier in the day addressed a series of election meetings in Assam and Nagaland, reached Karipur Airport here around 9.30 PM. After an overnight stay at the guest house here, the two leaders will leave for Wayanad Thursday morning. "The Congress chief will embark on a massive roadshow at around 9.30 AM before filing the nomination papers," Chennithala said. Wasnik claimed 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," he said. Earlier, sources said the Congress chief would board a helicopter to Wayanad, about 90 km from here, to file his nomination. 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 has 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.

Rahul to file nomination from Wayanad today; arrives in Kerala with Priyanka

The quaint region of Wayanad is witnessing some hectic political activity.&nbsp;AICC President Rahul Gandhi has chosen Wayanad as his second seat to contest the Lok Sabha elections - also being called as his safe seat by many owing to its substantial minority population.&nbsp;

Wayanad is a picturesque district nestled in the eco-sensitive Western Ghats, but the parliamentary constituency spreads across three districts - Wayanad, Malappuram and Kozhikode.&nbsp;

Under Wayanad district, the constituency has Mananthavady, Sulthan Bathery and Kalpetta, Thiruvamabady in Kozhikode district and Nilambur, Wandoor and Eranad in Malappuram.&nbsp;

According to the 2011 census data, Wayanad has 28.8% Muslims, 21.5% Christians and 49.5% Hindus. In Mallapuram the Muslim population is stronger at 70%, Christians at 21.5% and Hindus at 28%. In Kozhikode too, Muslims play a decisive role in electorally with a population of 39.24%.&nbsp;

But there is more than one reason for Rahul Gandhi to contest from this second seat. While one popular perception is that the AICC chief needed a safer seat than Amethi, the truth is Congress in Kerala also desperately needed the national leader to hold its factions together.&nbsp;

The two warring groups within the state Congress, one led by former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and the other led by Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennitala, were at loggerheads over the candidate from Wayanad.&nbsp;

Though Oommen Chandy's close aide T Siddique was finally chosen for the job, the party looked up to Rahul Gandhi to save it from self-destructive dissidence.&nbsp;

'All the rank and file of the party and UDF are in a good mood to welcome Rahul Ji. The people of Wayanad now feel that through Rahul Ji's candidature their problems will finally be addressed and heard at the national level. It is for the first time Kerala is witnessing such a candidature' asserted Siddique while speaking to WION, as the two factions seem to have finally united for the elections.&nbsp;

But in its supposed battle for secularism against the BJP, Congress seems to have rubbed off the LDF in Kerala. Wayanad has barely any presence of the saffron party and the state's ruling LDF is its prime opposition.&nbsp;

The Left candidate from Wayanad, PP Suneer, has been vocally critical of the Congress leader's candidature from the region. 'Rahul Gandhi's decision is a Himalayan blunder. It is disappointing to the secular, democratic forces in India. This is a direct fight between LDF and UDF. The BJP has no presence. Around 600 farmers committed suicide in the district during the UPA government's tenure and the previous Congress MP Shanavas failed to address many problems. Wayanad will be Rahul Gandhi's Waterloo. He will be surely defeated' says Suneer as he carries on his third round of the door-to-door campaign. In response, Congress claims the Left is merely rattled. 'In the elections, the LDF has decided to contest some seats in Kerala. According to a survey report, they will not get any seats in West Bengal, they will lose in Tripura and they had hopes only with Kerala. But with Rahul Gandhi's candidature, their hopes have been dashed' responded Congress' Siddique. However, LDF asserts that it will put up a tough fight as it has 4 out of the 7 MLAs, 4 out of the 5 municipalities and 29 out of 50-gram panchayats in the constituency.&nbsp;

The third candidate pitted against Rahul Gandhi is NDA'S Thussar Vellapally. The President of Bharat Dharma Jana Sena or BDJS that has entered into an alliance with the BJP, Thussar Vellapally is the son of Vellapally Natesan, the tallest Ezhava Caste leader, a backward community that enjoys substantial strength in the region.&nbsp;

'We are only talking about development. Kerala is not like other states. We are not here to communally balance. BDJS has followers from all communities. All communities will vote for me. There are 50% Hindus here. I will get votes from all communities' says Thussar Vellapally while speaking to WION.&nbsp;

Interestingly senior Vellapally who is the General Secretary of the community organisation SNDP has backed LDF and portrays opposing views on several issues like the Women's Wall in Kerala on the Sabarimala issue.&nbsp;

This is the first time Rahul Gandhi will be contesting from the South of India where surveys indicate that he enjoys more popularity than Prime Minister Narendra Modi.&nbsp;

Though other states like Tamil Nadu and Karnataka had also urged the party president to contest, Rahul Gandhi seems to have chosen Kerala where Congress continues to enjoy dominance.

The quaint region of Wayanad is witnessing some hectic political activity. AICC President Rahul Gandhi has chosen Wayanad as his second seat to contest the Lok Sabha elections - also being called as his safe seat by many owing to its substantial minority population.

The quaint region of Wayanad is witnessing some hectic political activity. AICC President Rahul Gandhi has chosen Wayanad as his second seat to contest the Lok Sabha elections - also being called as his safe seat by many owing to its substantial minority population. Wayanad is a picturesque district nestled in the eco-sensitive Western Ghats, but the parliamentary constituency spreads across three districts - Wayanad, Malappuram and Kozhikode. Under Wayanad district, the constituency has Mananthavady, Sulthan Bathery and Kalpetta, Thiruvamabady in Kozhikode district and Nilambur, Wandoor and Eranad in Malappuram. According to the 2011 census data, Wayanad has 28.8% Muslims, 21.5% Christians and 49.5% Hindus. In Mallapuram the Muslim population is stronger at 70%, Christians at 21.5% and Hindus at 28%. In Kozhikode too, Muslims play a decisive role in electorally with a population of 39.24%. But there is more than one reason for Rahul Gandhi to contest from this second seat. While one popular perception is that the AICC chief needed a safer seat than Amethi, the truth is Congress in Kerala also desperately needed the national leader to hold its factions together. The two warring groups within the state Congress, one led by former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and the other led by Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennitala, were at loggerheads over the candidate from Wayanad. Though Oommen Chandy's close aide T Siddique was finally chosen for the job, the party looked up to Rahul Gandhi to save it from self-destructive dissidence. 'All the rank and file of the party and UDF are in a good mood to welcome Rahul Ji. The people of Wayanad now feel that through Rahul Ji's candidature their problems will finally be addressed and heard at the national level. It is for the first time Kerala is witnessing such a candidature' asserted Siddique while speaking to WION, as the two factions seem to have finally united for the elections. But in its supposed battle for secularism against the BJP, Congress seems to have rubbed off the LDF in Kerala. Wayanad has barely any presence of the saffron party and the state's ruling LDF is its prime opposition. The Left candidate from Wayanad, PP Suneer, has been vocally critical of the Congress leader's candidature from the region. 'Rahul Gandhi's decision is a Himalayan blunder. It is disappointing to the secular, democratic forces in India. This is a direct fight between LDF and UDF. The BJP has no presence. Around 600 farmers committed suicide in the district during the UPA government's tenure and the previous Congress MP Shanavas failed to address many problems. Wayanad will be Rahul Gandhi's Waterloo. He will be surely defeated' says Suneer as he carries on his third round of the door-to-door campaign. In response, Congress claims the Left is merely rattled. 'In the elections, the LDF has decided to contest some seats in Kerala. According to a survey report, they will not get any seats in West Bengal, they will lose in Tripura and they had hopes only with Kerala. But with Rahul Gandhi's candidature, their hopes have been dashed' responded Congress' Siddique. However, LDF asserts that it will put up a tough fight as it has 4 out of the 7 MLAs, 4 out of the 5 municipalities and 29 out of 50-gram panchayats in the constituency. The third candidate pitted against Rahul Gandhi is NDA'S Thussar Vellapally. The President of Bharat Dharma Jana Sena or BDJS that has entered into an alliance with the BJP, Thussar Vellapally is the son of Vellapally Natesan, the tallest Ezhava Caste leader, a backward community that enjoys substantial strength in the region. 'We are only talking about development. Kerala is not like other states. We are not here to communally balance. BDJS has followers from all communities. All communities will vote for me. There are 50% Hindus here. I will get votes from all communities' says Thussar Vellapally while speaking to WION. Interestingly senior Vellapally who is the General Secretary of the community organisation SNDP has backed LDF and portrays opposing views on several issues like the Women's Wall in Kerala on the Sabarimala issue. This is the first time Rahul Gandhi will be contesting from the South of India where surveys indicate that he enjoys more popularity than Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Though other states like Tamil Nadu and Karnataka had also urged the party president to contest, Rahul Gandhi seems to have chosen Kerala where Congress continues to enjoy dominance.

Kerala’s Wayanad: The other constituency Congress chief Rahul Gandhi is fighting from

The law permits a candidate to contest from two seats, and so there is nothing irregular in Rahul Gandhi deciding to contest from two Lok Sabha constituencies. But the law is not the issue here; the issue is political in nature. From the time it became officially known that the Congress president would fight from Wayanad in Kerala, in addition to re-contesting from Amethi — from where he is the sitting Member of Parliament — his party has been trying to justify the decision using various ways. Whether that defence sounds credible is one matter, but the fact that the Congress has been pushed to the back foot should be a source of satisfaction for the Bharatiya Janata Party.&nbsp; 
 
Congress has given two broad explanations. The first is that it is not unusual for politicians to contest from two constituencies. The party has pointed to Narendra Modi fighting the 2014 Lok Sabha polls from Varanasi and Vadodara. There are many other examples too, but the Modi analogy is flawed. Leaders generally take this route to be ‘safe’, in case the feedback from one constituency is not very assuring. Modi was not a Lok Sabha MP when he decided to take the national plunge. He had 26 ‘safe’ seats in Gujarat, and thus safety could not have been a reason for his choice of Varanasi as an additional constituency.&nbsp;

The idea was to energise his party in Uttar Pradesh where once the BJP was strong but had fallen on bad times since the previous two decades. Besides, Uttar Pradesh, with 80 Lok Sabha seats, was the key to win over the Centre. We now know that the strategy worked wonderfully for the party.&nbsp; 
 
Rahul Gandhi won in 2014 with a vastly reduced margin as compared to 2009 from Amethi. And this happened when he faced a newcomer to electoral politics, Smriti Irani. It needs to be remembered that, in a show of arrogance which is characteristic of the Nehru-Gandhi family, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had then quipped: “Irani who?” Since then, Irani has maintained close touch with the constituency, arguably visiting it more frequently than the incumbent MP. The so-called Nehru-Gandhi bastion fell to the BJP in the 2017 State elections, where the Congress could not win a single Assembly constituency. &nbsp;

Over the last five years, with the BJP regime at the Centre and later in the state, Rahul Gandhi’s constituency has benefitted from the equation. The development in the period and lack of it in the previous times despite the Congress chief being its representative is the narrative that the BJP has been relentlessly pushing in the constituency. There is an additional factor to be considered — the refusal of the SP-BSP combine to put up a candidate in the constituency. Apparently, this has been done as a token of magnanimity, and to also ensure that the anti-BJP votes do not split. But it is a double-edged sword. There is no certainty that a majority of the votes that would have gone to SP-BSP candidate will fall in the Congress’s kitty. There is a possibility that some of them might end up in the BJP’s coffer, especially if neither Mayawati nor Akhilesh campaigns for Rahul Gandhi.&nbsp;

In sum, the Congress president faces a tougher contest than even the last time, and this is probably the reason why he has chosen a ‘safe’ seat in Wayanad. How safe even that, remains to be seen, given that the Communist Party of India (Marxist), which too in the fray from that constituency, has vowed to defeat the Congress heavyweight.&nbsp;

The second explanation the Congress has given for the Wayanad choice is that the party wants to ‘bridge’ the north-south divide, carry forward Indira Gandhi’s south-bound legacy, and boost the Congress’s prospects in Kerala. The fact is that Indira Gandhi had contested from Chikmagalur in Karnataka after facing a shocking and humiliating defeat from Rae Bareli in the post-Emergency elections. Karnataka had big leaders from the ruling Janata Dal at the Centre, and yet she won because by then the Janata Party experiment had just about begun to fall apart. The narrative of the north-south divide is specious because by that logic there must have been a west-north divide too when Modi contested from Vadodara and Varanasi — and he managed to bridge it! As for boosting the Congress’s chances in the state, that, for now, remains a fond hope.&nbsp;

The fact is: The choice of Wayanad is self-explanatory, and it has nothing to do with bridging any regional divide or taking a legacy forward. According to the 2011 Census, the percentage of Muslim and Christian population taken together is over 50 per cent, and the Congress believes that the demographics provided a safe enough cushion for Rahul Gandhi to emerge victorious. As per the same Census, nearly 95 per cent of the population lives in rural regions which, the Congress calculates, can be exploited in the party’s favour. &nbsp; 
 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.) 
&nbsp;&nbsp;

The law permits a candidate to contest from two seats, and so there is nothing irregular in Rahul Gandhi deciding to contest from two Lok Sabha constituencies. But the law is not the issue here; the issue is political in nature.

The law permits a candidate to contest from two seats, and so there is nothing irregular in Rahul Gandhi deciding to contest from two Lok Sabha constituencies. But the law is not the issue here; the issue is political in nature. From the time it became officially known that the Congress president would fight from Wayanad in Kerala, in addition to re-contesting from Amethi — from where he is the sitting Member of Parliament — his party has been trying to justify the decision using various ways. Whether that defence sounds credible is one matter, but the fact that the Congress has been pushed to the back foot should be a source of satisfaction for the Bharatiya Janata Party. Congress has given two broad explanations. The first is that it is not unusual for politicians to contest from two constituencies. The party has pointed to Narendra Modi fighting the 2014 Lok Sabha polls from Varanasi and Vadodara. There are many other examples too, but the Modi analogy is flawed. Leaders generally take this route to be ‘safe’, in case the feedback from one constituency is not very assuring. Modi was not a Lok Sabha MP when he decided to take the national plunge. He had 26 ‘safe’ seats in Gujarat, and thus safety could not have been a reason for his choice of Varanasi as an additional constituency. The idea was to energise his party in Uttar Pradesh where once the BJP was strong but had fallen on bad times since the previous two decades. Besides, Uttar Pradesh, with 80 Lok Sabha seats, was the key to win over the Centre. We now know that the strategy worked wonderfully for the party. Rahul Gandhi won in 2014 with a vastly reduced margin as compared to 2009 from Amethi. And this happened when he faced a newcomer to electoral politics, Smriti Irani. It needs to be remembered that, in a show of arrogance which is characteristic of the Nehru-Gandhi family, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had then quipped: “Irani who?” Since then, Irani has maintained close touch with the constituency, arguably visiting it more frequently than the incumbent MP. The so-called Nehru-Gandhi bastion fell to the BJP in the 2017 State elections, where the Congress could not win a single Assembly constituency. Over the last five years, with the BJP regime at the Centre and later in the state, Rahul Gandhi’s constituency has benefitted from the equation. The development in the period and lack of it in the previous times despite the Congress chief being its representative is the narrative that the BJP has been relentlessly pushing in the constituency. There is an additional factor to be considered — the refusal of the SP-BSP combine to put up a candidate in the constituency. Apparently, this has been done as a token of magnanimity, and to also ensure that the anti-BJP votes do not split. But it is a double-edged sword. There is no certainty that a majority of the votes that would have gone to SP-BSP candidate will fall in the Congress’s kitty. There is a possibility that some of them might end up in the BJP’s coffer, especially if neither Mayawati nor Akhilesh campaigns for Rahul Gandhi. In sum, the Congress president faces a tougher contest than even the last time, and this is probably the reason why he has chosen a ‘safe’ seat in Wayanad. How safe even that, remains to be seen, given that the Communist Party of India (Marxist), which too in the fray from that constituency, has vowed to defeat the Congress heavyweight. The second explanation the Congress has given for the Wayanad choice is that the party wants to ‘bridge’ the north-south divide, carry forward Indira Gandhi’s south-bound legacy, and boost the Congress’s prospects in Kerala. The fact is that Indira Gandhi had contested from Chikmagalur in Karnataka after facing a shocking and humiliating defeat from Rae Bareli in the post-Emergency elections. Karnataka had big leaders from the ruling Janata Dal at the Centre, and yet she won because by then the Janata Party experiment had just about begun to fall apart. The narrative of the north-south divide is specious because by that logic there must have been a west-north divide too when Modi contested from Vadodara and Varanasi — and he managed to bridge it! As for boosting the Congress’s chances in the state, that, for now, remains a fond hope. The fact is: The choice of Wayanad is self-explanatory, and it has nothing to do with bridging any regional divide or taking a legacy forward. According to the 2011 Census, the percentage of Muslim and Christian population taken together is over 50 per cent, and the Congress believes that the demographics provided a safe enough cushion for Rahul Gandhi to emerge victorious. As per the same Census, nearly 95 per cent of the population lives in rural regions which, the Congress calculates, can be exploited in the party’s favour. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Lok Sabha polls 2019: Rahul Gandhi chose to contest from Wayanad because Amethi may no longer be a 'safe' seat for him

BJP chooses Tushar Vellapally against Rahul Gandhi from Wayanad

Putting an end to speculation, Congress on Sunday said that the party president Rahul Gandhi will contest from Wayanad in Kerala along with family bastion Amethi, Uttar Pradesh in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Congress leader AK Antony made the announcement in a press conference at the party headquarters on Sunday and said Gandhi has agreed to fight from two seats.&nbsp;

''Rahul ji has given his consent to contest from two seats, very happy to inform you that he will also contest from Wayanad in Kerala,'' Antony was quoted as saying.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
AK Antony,Congress: Rahul ji has given his consent to contest from two seats, very happy to inform you that he will also contest from Wayanad in Kerala. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LokSabhaElections2019?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LokSabhaElections2019</a> <a href="https://t.co/Rt7IDNxr0D">pic.twitter.com/Rt7IDNxr0D</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1112227066186006528?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 31, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

When asked whether Rahul Gandhi was not confident in Amethi, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala retorted: ''Why did Modi ji leave Gujarat and contest from Varanasi? Was he not confident in Gujarat? These are immature and childish comments, he said and added ''She (Smriti Irani) will complete a hat-trick of losses''.

Earlier, Kerala Congress had requested Rahul to contest from&nbsp;Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Putting an end to speculation, Congress on Sunday said that the party president Rahul Gandhi will contest from Wayanad in Kerala along with family bastion Amethi, Uttar Pradesh in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Putting an end to speculation, Congress on Sunday said that the party president Rahul Gandhi will contest from Wayanad in Kerala along with family bastion Amethi, Uttar Pradesh in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Congress leader AK Antony made the announcement in a press conference at the party headquarters on Sunday and said Gandhi has agreed to fight from two seats. ''Rahul ji has given his consent to contest from two seats, very happy to inform you that he will also contest from Wayanad in Kerala,'' Antony was quoted as saying. AK Antony,Congress: Rahul ji has given his consent to contest from two seats, very happy to inform you that he will also contest from Wayanad in Kerala. #LokSabhaElections2019 pic.twitter.com/Rt7IDNxr0D — ANI (@ANI) March 31, 2019 × When asked whether Rahul Gandhi was not confident in Amethi, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala retorted: ''Why did Modi ji leave Gujarat and contest from Varanasi? Was he not confident in Gujarat? These are immature and childish comments, he said and added ''She (Smriti Irani) will complete a hat-trick of losses''. Earlier, Kerala Congress had requested Rahul to contest from Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency.

Lok Sabha polls 2019: Rahul Gandhi to contest from Wayanad in Kerala in addition to Amethi  

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said Sunday that Congress president <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/rahul-gandhi-to-contest-from-wayanad-in-kerala-besides-amethi-206891">Rahul Gandhi contesting the Lok Sabha elections from Wayanad</a> in the state — apart from Amethi in UP — could only be seen as a move to fight the Left parties and not the BJP, and asserted that the LDF would defeat him in the April 23 Lok Sabha elections.

There was no need to attach any special importance to the Congress president contesting from the state and Gandhi was just one among the 20 candidates of the opposition UDF, who are trying their luck from Kerala, he said.

"If Gandhi's fight is against the BJP, he should have contested against the saffron party. In Kerala, the fight is between LDF and UDF in the elections," Vijayan told a meet-the-press programme at the Press Club here.

He was reacting to the announcement by Congress that Gandhi would contest from the hilly Wayanad, considered a fortress of the party, in addition to the Gandhi family's pocket burrow Amethi seat in Uttar Pradesh in the polls.

"The present move can only be seen as a fight against the Left. But, we have no anxiety...We are fully confident and will strive to defeat him in Wayanad," the CPI-M veteran said.

Gandhi had announced earlier he would retain Amethi in Uttar Pradesh as his constituency after elections, he said.

"So, it is like...Gandhi will continue as the MP from Amethi and in Wayand he is examining if he can defeat the Left", the Chief Minister said asking what message the Congress was conveying to the people through the move.

When asked about the proposed post-poll alliance with the Congress at the national level, Vijayan said it was a matter to be thought off after the elections.

BJP state chief P S Sreedharan Pillai said the Congress decision to field Gandhi from Wayanad showed the "decay" in the grand old party.

"After realising that he will lose from Amethi, Gandhi has decided to contest from wayand", he told reporters here.

The BJP would give a "tough fight" to the Congress candidate, he said adding Gandhi's Wayanad contest was being viewed by the party as "acceptance of defeat".

The state Congress leaders were all in a jubilant mood over the AICC chief's decision.

Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly Ramesh Chennithala said the party'saim was to ensure Gandhi's victory with a massive margin.

"I challenge Pinarayi Vijayan, if he can defeat Rahul Gandhi in Wayanad and we accept the challenge," he told reporters at Alapuzha.

It would be a "historical win" for Gandhi in Wayanad and there would be a "Rahul wave" in the entire state, he claimed.

"A prime ministerial candidate is contesting from Kerala for the first time and this will have an impact in the entire state," he said adding the UDF would win all 20 seats.

Party's state unit President Mulapally Ramachandran said the decision to field Gandhi from Wayand would be "a happy news for secular-democratic forces" in the state.

He also remembered how former Congress presidents Indira Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi had scripted impressive victories from South India.

Congress leader M I Shanavas, who died in November last year, had won Wayanad, known for its picturesque locales and spices, in the 2009 and 2014 elections.

The LDF has decided to field CPIs P P Suneer in the constituency this time while BJP-NDA yet to announce its candidate.&nbsp;

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said Sunday that Congress president Rahul Gandhi contesting the Lok Sabha elections from Wayanad in the state — apart from Amethi in UP — could only be seen as a move to fight the Left parties and not the BJP, and asserted that the LDF would defeat him in the April 23 Lok Sabha elections.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said Sunday that Congress president Rahul Gandhi contesting the Lok Sabha elections from Wayanad in the state — apart from Amethi in UP — could only be seen as a move to fight the Left parties and not the BJP, and asserted that the LDF would defeat him in the April 23 Lok Sabha elections. There was no need to attach any special importance to the Congress president contesting from the state and Gandhi was just one among the 20 candidates of the opposition UDF, who are trying their luck from Kerala, he said. "If Gandhi's fight is against the BJP, he should have contested against the saffron party. In Kerala, the fight is between LDF and UDF in the elections," Vijayan told a meet-the-press programme at the Press Club here. He was reacting to the announcement by Congress that Gandhi would contest from the hilly Wayanad, considered a fortress of the party, in addition to the Gandhi family's pocket burrow Amethi seat in Uttar Pradesh in the polls. "The present move can only be seen as a fight against the Left. But, we have no anxiety...We are fully confident and will strive to defeat him in Wayanad," the CPI-M veteran said. Gandhi had announced earlier he would retain Amethi in Uttar Pradesh as his constituency after elections, he said. "So, it is like...Gandhi will continue as the MP from Amethi and in Wayand he is examining if he can defeat the Left", the Chief Minister said asking what message the Congress was conveying to the people through the move. When asked about the proposed post-poll alliance with the Congress at the national level, Vijayan said it was a matter to be thought off after the elections. BJP state chief P S Sreedharan Pillai said the Congress decision to field Gandhi from Wayanad showed the "decay" in the grand old party. "After realising that he will lose from Amethi, Gandhi has decided to contest from wayand", he told reporters here. The BJP would give a "tough fight" to the Congress candidate, he said adding Gandhi's Wayanad contest was being viewed by the party as "acceptance of defeat". The state Congress leaders were all in a jubilant mood over the AICC chief's decision. Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly Ramesh Chennithala said the party'saim was to ensure Gandhi's victory with a massive margin. "I challenge Pinarayi Vijayan, if he can defeat Rahul Gandhi in Wayanad and we accept the challenge," he told reporters at Alapuzha. It would be a "historical win" for Gandhi in Wayanad and there would be a "Rahul wave" in the entire state, he claimed. "A prime ministerial candidate is contesting from Kerala for the first time and this will have an impact in the entire state," he said adding the UDF would win all 20 seats. Party's state unit President Mulapally Ramachandran said the decision to field Gandhi from Wayand would be "a happy news for secular-democratic forces" in the state. He also remembered how former Congress presidents Indira Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi had scripted impressive victories from South India. Congress leader M I Shanavas, who died in November last year, had won Wayanad, known for its picturesque locales and spices, in the 2009 and 2014 elections. The LDF has decided to field CPIs P P Suneer in the constituency this time while BJP-NDA yet to announce its candidate.

Rahul Gandhi fighting from Wayanad means he is fighting Left, not BJP: Kerala CM Pinari Vijayan

Rahul Gandhi to contest from Wayanad in Kerala along with Amethi

India Elections 2019: Rahul Gandhi may also contest from Wayanad seat in Kerala

wayanad

Wayanad, News on Wayanad, stories on Wayanad, articles on Wayanad, Wayanad stories at Wion, Wayanad news, Wayanad latest news