Kalpetta: Congress president and Wayanad UDF candidate Rahul Gandhi filed his nomination papers before district collector A R Ajayakumar on Thursday. He was accompanied by AICC general secretary and his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. She has always accompanied her brother when filing nomination for Lok Sabha contests from the Amethi constituency in Uttar Pradesh.
Wayanad campaign begins
Braving the scorching heat, Rahul Gandhi, accompanied by his sister Priyanka, began a roadshow Thursday in Wayanad constituency as part of his poll campaign for the April 23 Lok Sabha elections.
The AICC chief, along with the state leaders including former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Assembly Ramesh Chennithala, came out in an open vehicle after Gandhi completed the nomination procedures at the district collectorate.
As the massive crowd of supporters gathered on both sides of the road, security personnel had a tough time controlling the workers to clear the way for the vehicle.
As the vehicle inched forward, Gandhi was seen shaking hands with many elated supporters.
People were seen clicking photos on their mobile phones and waving flags of the Congress party and its ally Indian Union Muslim League (IUML).
Tight security
Security arrangements have been monitored in town with the deployment of huge police force, including personnel from neighbouring districts. Kalpetta town is filled with posters and cut-outs of Rahul and Priyanka.
On arrival, the Gandhis, were received by local leaders at the school ground. Barricades have been raised from the ground till Kalpetta bus stand. Hundreds of Congress workers have been lined up with 'Rahul T-shirt' and caps to welcome him at the SKMJ higher secondary school ground.
The road show might be restricted to just 200 metres, instead of the earlier plan due to intelligence reports of Maoist presence. The meeting at DCC office, Kalpetta was also called off after security alert.
The Gandhis arrived at Calicut International Airport, Karipur, on Wednesday night amid rousing welcome from the workers of United Democratic Front (UDF). They were received at the airport by Congress leaders KC Venugopal, Mukul Wasnik, Ramesh Chennithala, Mullappally Ramachandran, Oommen Chandy and IUML national general secretary P K Kunhalikutty. Both of them stayed in Kozhikode, before proceeding to Kalpetta on Thursday.
The SPG has asked Congress for details of the four people who will enter the Collector's chamber along with Rahul. No one except those on his team will be let into the Collectorate premises.
After the events in Kalpetta, Rahul and Priyanka would leave for Nagpur. He is expected to return to Wayanad at least twice prior to the polling day, according to Congress leaders from Wayanad. Senior Congress leader AK Antony will campaign in the constituency on April 9 and Oommen Chandy is expected to arrive on April 12.
Congress on a high
Meanwhile, senior Congress leader and AICC general secretary in charge of Kerala, Mukul Wasnik, claimed that the announcement of Gandhi's candidature had enthused the people of the constituency.
"The entire Congress party and the UDF had invited Rahul ji to contest in Kerala. Similar invitations were extended from Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Finally taking into consideration, the feelings of the party members and the alliance partners, Rahulji decided to contest in Wayanad. Since the time this announcement was made, we can see tremendous enthusiasm among the party members and the people," he told reporters.
Wasnik also said Gandhi's candidature has made a major difference in other states, including Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. "It will get reflected in the voting," he said.
Modi slammed for neglecting South India
Rahul on Tuesday 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.
"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," Gandhi said.
"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 yesterday in Delhi.