Rahul Gandhi’s decision to run for the Raebareli Lok Sabha seat in Uttar Pradesh alongside his Wayanad candidacy garnered a varied response from the residents of Kerala’s Wayanad. The elections for the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat took place on April 26th, prompting diverse opinions. While some individuals saw no issue with Gandhi’s dual candidacy, others expressed disapproval.
At a local roadside stall in Wayanad, one individual voiced support for Gandhi’s decision to contest from two constituencies. “As the leader of the INDIA bloc, it’s entirely justified,” they remarked. Conversely, another individual speculated, “Should he emerge victorious in both races, it’s probable he will relinquish the Wayanad seat.”
“Should he proceed, it might not sit well with some. Nevertheless, let’s reserve judgment,” remarked another passerby. However, P.K. Kunhalikutty, a seasoned leader of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), staunchly defended Gandhi’s choice to contest from Raebareli as well.
“The crux of the matter is that we, the IUML, urged the Congress national leadership to field Rahul from an additional constituency apart from Wayanad. Didn’t PM Modi contest from two seats? We believe this decision will fortify the INDIA bloc,” emphasized Kunhalikutty.
While Rahul emerged victorious in the 2019 Wayanad polls, he suffered defeat in the Amethi constituency in Uttar Pradesh. This time in Wayanad, he faced competition from CPI leader Annie Raja and the state BJP president K. Surendran.
