Rahul to hold roadshow before filing nomination from Wayanad

Wayanad: Congress President Rahul Gandhi is expected to file his nomination from Kerala's Wayanad seat at around 11:30 am today. He will be accompanied by the party's UP East General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi.

The Congress chief will also embark on a massive roadshow before filing the nomination papers, Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala had said.

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Gandhi 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, reached Kozhikode shortly before her brother arrived.

Ahead of Gandhi filing his nomination from Wayanad, Union Minister Smriti Irani, who would be contesting against the former from Amethi, said, "He (Rahul Gandhi) enjoyed a position of power for 15 years because of the support from Amethi, but now he is going to file nomination from elsewhere. This is an insult of Amethi and people here will not tolerate this."

'South India Feels Hostility from Narendra Modi'

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Earlier, on Tuesday, Rahul 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.

Rahul Gandhi "There is a feeling in South India, a very strong feeling in South India, that they are not being carried (along) by the current government. South India feels hostility from Mr Narendra Modi, they feel that they are not being included in the decisions of the country."

"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 said in response to a question after the launch of the party's manifesto.

The Congress 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.

The Congress' announcement that the party chief will contest from Wayanad evoked sharp reactions from the Left and Right of the political spectrum.

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The CPI(M) and CPI said the move signalled the Congress wanted to take on the Left, which would work towards defeating him in the elections from Wayanad.

BJP chief Amit Shah 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.

(PTI)