In an election battle primarily between LDF and UDF in Kerala, Congress President Rahul Gandhi, who is all set to contest from Wayanad, has said that he will not sling off at the CPI (M) in his election campaign. Rahul, who is in Wayanad, spoke to the media after filing his nomination at the District Office on Thursday.
“There is a tussle between the Congress and the CPM. The battle may continue in future, but I am here to tell the people of Kerala that I will defend all the allegations made by CPM about me. I understand that my brothers and sisters in CPM will now speak against me and attack me, but I am not going to say a word against the CPM in my entire campaign," said Rahul Gandhi.
“I have come to Kerala to send a message that India is one, be it North, South, East or West. My aim is to send a message. There is a feeling in South India that the way the Centre, Modi ji and RSS are working, it is like an assault on the culture and languages in the south,” he added while addressing the media.
The statement by Rahul comes three days after the CPI (M) mouthpiece Deshabhimani sparked outrage by calling Rahul’s candidature in Wayanad a ‘Pappu strike’. The newspaper also said that this move by Congress will ensure that the party’s destruction is complete. The CPI (M) seemed to be irked by Rahul contesting from Wayanad as it means that the fight is a direct one between the CPI (M) and the Congress.
Although Wayanad has traditionally voted for Congress candidates, in the previous term, Congress MP MI Shanavas only won by a marginal 20,000 seats against CPI candidate Sathyan Mokeri.
The Congress President, along with sister and Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi and Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala, held a roadshow across Kalpetta after filing his nomination.