During a spirited campaign ahead of today’s Wayanad bypoll, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi asked his sister, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, to turn Wayanad into a premier tourist destination. Speaking before supporters in Sultan Bathery, he mentioned that Priyanka Gandhi would contest the election as the Congress candidate for the constituency.
Wayanad was previously the seat of Rahul Gandhi, who won it in the last general election but chose to relinquish it to retain his Rae Bareli constituency in Uttar Pradesh. The by-election will take place on November 13, and Priyanka Gandhi will step out into the electoral fray for the first time, facing Sathyan Mokeri of the Left Front and Navya Haridas of the BJP.
At a public rally, Rahul Gandhi playfully addressed Priyanka as his “little sister” jokingly claimed his entitlement to “complain about her to the people of Wayanad.” He said he feels closely attached to Wayanad, calling the place a huge place in his heart that goes beyond politics. “I am here to support everyone, Rahul said.
He continued challenging Priyanka to take Wayanad forward as a tourist destination, suggesting that it should be the first place that comes to people’s minds when they think of Kerala. “This will not only help the local economy but will also showcase the beauty of Wayanad to the world,” he quipped.
Rahul Gandhi deliberated further about what the people of Wayanad had taught him. “I may never have used the word, but the people of Wayanad have taught me that love plays a great role in politics. Love and affection are the greatest tools to defeat hate and anger,” he summed up.
