Rahul Gandhi to contest from Wayanad Lok Sabha seat in Kerala, says state Congress chief

Congress president Rahul Gandhi has agreed to contest from Wayanad Lok Sabha seat in Kerala, a party bastion in the state, state Congress chief Mullappally Ramachandran was quoted as saying by a report in Hindustan Times.

“Talks were on about this for almost a month. Initially, he (Rahul Gandhi) was not willing. After much persuasion, he agreed” Mullappally Ramachandran was quoted as saying in the report.

Earlier, AICC general secretary Oommen Chandy said the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) has requested Gandhi to contest from Wayanad but he has not commented on the proposal.

The party, which is contesting 16 out of 20 Lok Sabha seats in Kerala, has announced the names of 14 candidates but has not declared its candidates from Wayanad.

At Kottayam, the leader of opposition in the State Assembly, Ramesh Chennithala said he had requested Gandhi to contest from Wayanad when the Congress president visited Kerala recently to launch the party’s election campaign.

“I once again request Gandhi to contest from Wayanad. Congress president contesting from Lok Sabha seats in South India and North India will strengthen national unity and integration,” Chennithala said.

The Congress had earlier proposed T Siddique, the Kozhikode DCC president, for the Wayanad seat but he has backed out.

Siddique said he also wants Gandhi to contest from the Wayanad seat.

The election convention of the party-led UDF for Wayanad constituency will unanimously urge Gandhi to contest from the seat, he added.

The Congress state units in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka have also demanded that the party president contest the Lok Sabha elections from the respective states.

The Congress earlier this month had announced that Rahul Gandhi will contest from his bastion Amethi and Sonia Gandhi from Rae Bareli.