On Sunday, 31 March, Congress president Rahul Gandhi announced that he will contest the Lok Sabha polls from the Wayanad parliamentary seat in Kerala.
In his first public statement since the announcement, Gandhi explained his choice of seat while answering press questions during the release of the Congress’ election manifesto on Tuesday, 2 April.
“There is a feeling in south India that they are not being carried by the current government, they feel a hostility from PM Modi. They feel that they are not being included in the decisions of this country.”Rahul Gandhi
He added, “I wanted to send a message to south India that I am with you. That is why I am standing from here.”
‘Fighting from a Hindu Minority Seat’ Modi on Rahul’s Decision
On Monday, 1 April, Prime Minister Modi addressed a rally in Maharashtra saying, "They (Congress) linked peace-loving Hindus to terrorism...they are scared now to contest elections from constituencies where the majority population dominates...they are forced to go where the majority (Hindus) is a minority,” reported PTI.
Although Modi did not name Gandhi, the comment was a dig at Gandhi’s decision to contest a second seat from Wayanad.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)