Rahul files nomination from Wayanad, says polls crucial to save democracy, constitution

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday filed his nomination papers from Wayanad in Kerala that he currently represents and said the upcoming Lok Sabha election «is a fight for democracy and the Constitution of India».

His sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other state leaders accompanied Gandhi for filing of the nomination and later the roadshow, displaying a major show of strength by the local Congress unit and its ally Indian Union Muslim League.

Gandhi won Wayanad, considered among the safest constituencies for the party, in 2019 with a majority of over four lakh votes even as he lost from his traditional Amethi seat in Uttar Pradesh. Gandhi's main rival in the seat, Annie Raja of CPI, also filed her nomination, and she alleged that the Congress leader had neglected his constituency in the last five years.

While thanking the people of Wayanad for supporting him like a family during the past five years, Gandhi said, «This election is a fight for democracy and for the Constitution of India. On one side are the forces that want to destroy the democracy of this country and the Constitution while on the other side, there is a force that is protecting the Constitution and the democratic nature of our country.»

Though BJP has a negligible presence in Wayanad, yet it has fielded its high-profile Kerala chief K Surendran by projecting a contrasting message of how its top leader is challenging Gandhi in Congress' safest seat.