Rahul Gandhi, Congress's sitting MP in Wayanad, stated on Wednesday that "this election is a fight for democracy and the Constitution of India" after submitting his nominations for Lok Sabha Elections 2024. He went on to say that on one side there are forces that want to destroy this country's democracy and Constitution, and on the other side there is a force that wants to protect our country's Constitution and democratic nature.
The Wayanad constituency is all set for a face-off between the Congress and the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) as incumbent MP Rahul Gandhi and his opponent from the CPI-M Annie Raja today filed their nomination papers for the upcoming geenral elections. With this, the Congress and CPI-M who are partners of the opposition I.N.D.I.A. Bloc, will be pitted against each other in a fierce battle in the Kerala constituency.
Rahul Gandhi also held a roadshow in Wayanad, where he had won in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, securing a massive margin of over four lakh votes.
While addressing the public at the roadshow, Gandhi stated that it is a matter of pride for him to be the MP from Wayanad. "I consider you all like my younger sister Priyanka," he said.
Talking about the issues faced by the people in his lok sabha constituency, Rahul Gandhi stated: "Here, the issue of humans becoming victims of wild animals is a big one. There is an issue of medical college as well. I raised all the issues, wrote a letter to the CM but nothing happened. When we form government at the Centre and in Kerala, we will solve all your issues."
"Be it UDF or LDF, everyone is like my family, no matter the difference in ideology. I have learned a lot from you in the last five years," he added.
Rahul arrived at a village named Muppainad by helicopter and traveled by road till Kalpetta, PTI reported citing Congress party.
Rahul Gandhi held a roadshow from Kalpetta. He was accompanied by his sister Priyanka Gandhi and AICC general secretaries K C Venugopal and Deepa Das. Apart from them the AICC in-charge of the National Students' Union of India Kanhaiya Kumar,the Leader of Opposition in the state assembly V D Satheesan, and KPCC acting president M M Hassan, were also present, the report stated.
Thousands of party workers and supporters turned up for the roadshow which ended near the Civil Station here at around noon. Following this, the grand old party leader Rahul Gandhi submitted his nomination papers to the District Collector.
Wayanad Lok Sabha Elections 2019
In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi won from the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat. As per the results, after he secured 7,06,367 votes out of a total of 10,92,197. His closest rival at that time was CPI's P P Suneer, who received only 2,74,597 votes.
Kerala is scheduled to go for voting this year on April 26 as announced by the Election Commisison of India in March.
The Bharatiya Janata Party, on the other hand, has fielded its state president, KSurendran from the key constituency in Kerala.
Wayanad Lok Sabha Seat: CPI-M Leader Annie Raja Files Nomination
CPI-M leader Annie Raja filed her nomination from Wayanad on Wednesday, just hours before Rahul Gandhi was supposed to file his.
CPI is a partner of the ruling Communist party of India led by the Democratic Front in Kerala. Annie Raja, wife of CPI general secretary D Raja holds the post of general secretary in the party's National Federationof Indian Women. She is also a member of the national executive of CPI.
Raja began her political career by joining CPI's student wing, All India Students Federation. She later joined its youth wing, All India Youth Federation. Raja also served as the Kannur district secretary of the CPI's women wing. The CPI-M leader was also a member of the
CPI state executive committee. Raja emerged as one of the leading voices in her party, protesting strongly against attocities faced by women.