In a move arising from fear and insecurity, Congress has announced Rahul Gandhi’s candidature from Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency in Kerala as his second seat along with Amethi. With BJP candidate Smriti Irani’s rising popularity in Amethi, as evident from the UP state elections, Congress is noticing a shift in the voter preferences. Rahul Gandhi has led the party to a slow downfall, and nothing is more evident to that than the fact that Congress itself believes that Amethi might cease to be the family bastion after the 2019 elections.
Union Minister for Information Technology and Law Ravi Shankar Prasad said that Rahul’s decision to contest from the Wayanad constituency proves the fact that his ship was sinking with his roots in Amethi already shaken. Rahul used to contest earlier from only Amethi seat, but this time he chose a safe seat in Wayanad as he has lost all his confidence. Wayanad is a Muslim dominated region in Kerala. Prasad said, “As per 2011 census, Wayanad had 49.9 percent Hindus while others were minorities.” He further added that Rahul considered Wayanad a safe seat as he is “Chunavi Hindu” (Hindu in election season).
If Rahul Gandhi has so much love for South India, he should have chosen some other seat. Congress has not just picked any “back up” South Indian constituency to avoid the inevitable embarrassment in Amethi. Wayanad has been picked very tactfully with questionable demography. PM Modi chose the Varanasi seat during his first Lok Sabha elections, respecting his Hinduism ideologies, the Gandhi heir ironically chose Wayanad. Congress’ love for divide and rule is well known since time immemorial. Rahul Gandhi, imbibing from his elders wants to garner support through practicing vote bank politics. Congress believes Wayanad will spell a sure win for Rahul Gandhi as the Muslim and Christian voters in Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency are more than the Hindu voters. Sonia Gandhi, being an Italian born, always had a soft spot for Christian missionaries. Besides that, the grand old party has always done a favour or two to appease the Muslim population; the blockage of triple talaq bill being the latest example. Due to these tidbits, Congress feels the minorities have its back. With this mentality, they are rendering the Muslim and Christian community as a gullible vote bank. For a party that claims to be secular, it is quite ironic that Congress is continuing to inculcate a culture of communal politics.
With BJP openly taking up the issue, Congress is tongue-tied. Whatever argument the grand old party is trying to offer is falling flat on their entitled faces. While it’s true that Congress leaders Indira Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi have contested from south prior to this, their seats did not have such demographic statistics. Even though Congress has a loyal band of followers, this suicidal move is not going to go down well with the cadres, as is quite evident from the media reactions. Their own “durbaris” in the media are questioning this idiotic move.
With @RahulGandhi fighting the Left in Wayanad and spurning meaningful alliances in Delhi & elsewhere, Congress I believe has given up on 2019. It prefers the return of Modi or a weak nonBJP coalition to a strong nonBJP coalition it won't be able to dominate. So utterly suicidal.
— Siddharth (@svaradarajan) March 31, 2019
As @INCIndia prez where @RahulGandhi fights from gives dircn to party. Instead of seeking a soft landing in minorities dominated #wayanad in BJP-mukt Kerala, mount a more powerful campaign? eg. from Vidarbha site of farmers suicides. Unless @BJP4India is not your main rival…? https://t.co/Qs6OoJNKnX
— Sagarika Ghose (@sagarikaghose) April 1, 2019
It is inevitable that the BJP will state that #Rahul Gandhi has gone to #wyanand because 49 per cent is minorities. 28 % Muslims. 21 % Christians…
That sadly is the way the cookie crumbles.
The congress should know this choice has implications elsewhere.
— Saba Naqvi (@_sabanaqvi) March 31, 2019
They are collectively flabbergasted with the move and are on the verge of reconsidering their support to the party. Talking about how Rahul Gandhi has chosen the seat based on the minority voters, they are envisaging huge long term implications on the party. It seems to them that all Rahul Gandhi wants to do is dominate in the coalition and thus would rather form a weak government, if at all. Sagarika Ghosh, who has been Congress’ constant and the most loyal cheerleader is this time questioning the move and is chiding Rahul Gandhi for such a weak minority directed campaign. The main takeaway is that the party was ready to indulge in vote bank politics just to save the prince. Overall, after such an imbecile move, the media believes that Rahul Gandhi has given up on the elections.
“Imbecile move” is the apt term to describe the situation. The move is all set to backfire heavily with not only BJP but the entire country, including Congress supporters questioning the underlying intent. The grand old party has always indulged in dirty politics but with the education and awareness among the people now, they won’t be able to get away with it. With the move thoroughly backfiring, not only will they look like total hypocrites, they will suffer heavy losses because of this.
It is alarmingly dangerous for India that politics is continuing to be decided on religious grounds. With this calculated and tactful move, the Congress has ensured Rahul Gandhi’s election to Lok Sabha, be it from any constituency. The Wayanad candidature not only shows Congress’ loss of confidence in Rahul Gandhi but also is a letdown to the people in Amethi who have been staunch worshippers of the Congress party, believing in them. It is humorous to see the lengths the grand old party will go to in order to protect their incompetent heir.