‘Unjust To Wayanad Voters’: CPI Candidate Annie Raja On Rahul Gandhi's Candidature From Raebareli LS Seat

Annie Raja highlighted that although he had the right to contest from two seats, it was not morally correct to contest in the second seat without informing the voters of Wayanad.

Wayanad voted on April 26 during the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections. ( Image Source :X/@ANI )

A day after Rahul Gandhi's decision to contest from Raebareli Lok Sabha constituency in addition to Wayanad, Annie Raja of CPI, who contested against him in Kerala, argued that he should have disclosed this earlier to the voters of Wayanad. Annie Raja emphasised that while it's permissible for a candidate to run from dual seats, Gandhi's failure to inform Wayanad voters beforehand was unfair. 

Wayanad voted on April 26 during the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections.

On Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to contest from Raebareli, CPI candidate from Wayanad Lok Sabha seat Annie Raja said, "In our democracy, one person can contest on more than one seat. He is using that democratic right."

"But this is unjust to the voters of Wayanad because he never intimated to the voters of Wayanad that he intends to contest another seat... It is about political morality," he said.

#WATCH | Delhi: On Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to contest from Raebareli, CPI candidate from Wayanad Lok Sabha seat Annie Raja says, "In our democracy, one person can contest on more than one seat. He is using that democratic right. But this is unjust to the voters of Wayanad… pic.twitter.com/RjFEen7xdS

— ANI (@ANI) May 3, 2024

 

Rahul Gandhi Dual Contest: Wayanad Witnesses Mixed Reaction

The opinions were divided regarding Rahul Gandhi's decision to contest from Raebareli in addition to Wayanad. At a wayside shop in Wayanad, some individuals defended Gandhi's choice, stating that as the leader of the I.N.D.I.A. bloc, it was acceptable for him to run from dual seats.

However, others criticised his decision, suggesting that if he were to win both seats, he would likely vacate the Wayanad constituency, as per a report on IANS.

Veteran Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leader P.K. Kunhalikutty also welcomed the decision of Rahul Gandhi.