Thiruvananthapuram: Congress President Shri Mallikarjun Kharge on November 7, 2024, hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, labeling him a “bogus man” and a “liar” for betraying the affected families of devastating landslides that killed over 400 people in July 2024.

Speaking at a rally in Nilambur, Malappuram district, in support of Wayanad UDF candidate Smt. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, he mentioned that Modi had visited Wayanad following the catastrophic landslides and pledged support to the victims. But whatever he promised, the Prime Minister never gave.

“The state submitted a detailed memorandum demanding Rs. 2000 crore for relief and rehabilitation. But the Centre allocated only Rs. 291 crore,” Shri Mallikarjun Kharge said and contrasted this with the generous aid provided to BJP-ruled states in the wake of natural disasters.

The Congress President hailed Kerala for consistently upholding the constitutional ideals of equality, liberty, and fraternity. The people of Kerala uphold the concept of a secular India. However, the actions of the Modi government are undermining the country’s unity. Instead of promoting harmony, they are engendering division, anger, and fear, he said.

“They attempt to divide us based on caste and religion. However, I have faith in the people of Wayanad, and I am confident they cannot be divided. In recent years, the BJP and RSS have also introduced a new culture of communal and divisive politics in Kerala,” he alleged.

“Rahul works diligently and instills confidence in the people of this nation. He embarked on the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ from Kanyakumari to Kashmir. However, Modi has not visited Manipur to date to witness the dire conditions of the people and the tribal communities. The country requires a leader who stands with its citizens regardless of the circumstances,” Shri Kharge said. Whatever Modi claims, he fails to act upon. Modi’s false promises include:

• 2 crore jobs every year, but has he delivered?
• Any employment generated in Wayanad as per Modi’s promise?
• 15 lakh rupees in each individual’s account and bringing black money from abroad. Has he fulfilled these promises?
• Doubling farmers’ income, has it been achieved? Shri Kharge asked. Smt. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra started her speech in Malayalam. “Ellavarkum namaskaram, ningalude snehatinu nanni, enikk kurachu urachu Malayalam ariyam (Greetings to everyone. Thank you for your love. I know little Malayalam). “I have learned three sentences, I will continue to repeat these lines till I learn more sentences,” she said amid thunderous applause from the crowd.

Smt. Priyanka showers praises on Shri Mallikarjun Kharge

“I hold the deepest respect for Kharge ji’s leadership. He is one of the bravest warriors for which the Congress Party has to be thankful today. Despite facing great adversity in life, having lost almost his entire family when he was young, he remains committed to the values of the Constitution of India and never yields to the forces of oppression. All members of the Congress Party are proud to have Kharge ji as their leader, and I am honoured to have him here,” she said. The Congress candidate said, “In the last few days, as I have been traveling through the constituency, I have been deeply touched by the immense love you have shown me.”

Wayanad will have two members in Parliament, says Shri Rahul Gandhi

Wayanad: Wayanad is the only constituency in the country which will have two members in the Parliament, Congress leader Shri Rahul Gandhi said on October 23, 2024, as he urged the people of the hill district to vote for his sister Smt. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as she makes her electoral debut from Lok Sabha bypolls from the Constituency. The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said - Smt. Vadra would be “the official MP” from Wayanad, while he would be “the unofficial MP.” “One is the official member of the Parliament and the other is the unofficial member of the Parliament and both will work together to protect the people of Wayanad,” he said, while addressing a public meeting at Kalpetta here after the massive roadshow held by his sister ahead of filing her nomination for the bypoll. Shri Rahul Gandhi, who represented the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency from 2019 to 2024, further said that just like the people of the district protected and looked after him when he needed it the most, they should look after his sister.

“The rakhi I am wearing was made by my sister. I don’t take it off till it breaks. This is a symbol of a brother’s protection to his sister. That is why I request the people of Wayanad to look after my sister and protect her. She will put her entire energy into the problems of Wayanad and to protect you,” he said. He said that - “When our father died, she looked after my mother. My mother lost everything, my sister lost everything. But the person who looked after my mother was my sister. I am confident my sister is ready to sacrifice anything for her family. She considers the people of Wayanad as her family,” he said. After the public address, Smt. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra left for the Collectorate where she filed her nomination papers in the presence of Smt. Sonia Gandhi, Congress President Shri Mallikarjun Kharge, Shri Rahul Gandhi, and AICC General Secretary Shri K.C. Venugopal. The bypoll was necessitated after Shri Rahul Gandhi vacated the constituency and chose Rae Bareilly, the second seat, he won in this year’s Lok Sabha elections. Shri Rahul Gandhi had won the Wayanad seat by a margin of 3.6 lakh votes this year, defeating CPI’s Annie Raja. The Congress subsequently fielded Smt. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in the bypoll in Wayanad. Even though Priyanka is facing her debut electoral contest, she has ample experience in elections, having managed her mother Sonia’s Rae Bareilly constituency in the 2014 and 2019 elections. In 2019, she was given the charge of eastern Uttar Pradesh. Smt. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra would be contesting against LDF’s Sathyan Mokeri and BJP’s Navya Haridas.

Shri Rahul Gandhi promises to set up medical college in Wayanad

Mananthavady: Congress leader Shri Rahul Gandhi on November 3, 2024, assured that he and his sister Smt. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is committed to establishing a medical college in the hill constituency. Addressing a public meeting at Areekode in nearby Malappuram district as part of the election campaign, the former Wayanad MP said it’s not easy for him to leave the hill constituency as the people cutting across party lines supported him during his tough time. “Some commitments that I have made to you. Commitment to medical college, commitment of night traffic. I guarantee you, your new MP is going to be committed to doing these things. And also, your old MP is also going to be committed. We will personally build one of the best medical colleges in the country in this constituency,” he said. The mountainous constituency faces a shortage of basic infrastructure, with the need for a well-equipped medical college emerging as a keyissue. The Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha said that the people of Wayanad didn’t treat him like a politician but as a brother and a member of their family. The Congress leader alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not provide assistance to the landslide-hit region. “You saw that the Prime Minister of India came to Wayanad.., but he did not really support Wayanad financially,” he said. Smt. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had accused PM Modi of favouring big businesses over the well-being of the people of the country. Despite the rain, hundreds gathered in the small town, patiently waiting to see the Congress leader as the meeting started over two hours later than scheduled. Earlier in the day, Shri Rahul, along with his sister, attended corner meetings in Wayanad. The Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency consists of seven Assembly segments— Mananthavady (ST), Sulthan Bathery (ST) and Kalpetta in Wayanad district, Thiruvambady in Kozhikode district and Eranad, Nilambur, and Wandoor in Malappuram district.