It was after much dilly-dallying that the Congress on March 31 finally announced its decision to field party president Rahul Gandhi from the 'un-happening' constituency of Wayanad, which was, nonetheless, a traditional Congress bastion.
And on Thursday, the rousing welcome that the Nehru-Gandhi family scion received in Wayanad's Kalpetta, as he arrived to file his nomination papers, has doused the last bits of doubts—if there was any—on Rahul Gandhi's billion dollar gamble to choose a South Indian constituency.
A prelude to the excitement was already visible early morning on Thursday with large number of locals, including women and children, thronging the streets of Kalpetta. Similarly, emotions were running high among the crowd in Kozhikode that had arrived to see off Rahul and his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as the duo embarked on their brisk helicopter ride to Wayanad around 10:45am on Thursday.
READ: Was Pakistan flag waved in Rahul Gandhi's Wayanad? Here's the truth
The duo was welcomed by a sea of people and 'Rahul bro' posters in Kalpetta as they landed at SKMJ school ground. A visibly overwhelmed Rahul bypassed high-security arrangements in place and decided to give the private car that was supposed to take him and Priyanka to the collectorate a skip. Instead, he got on an open van, parked outside for the roadshow post the filing of nomination papers, as per the initial programme. Soon, Priyanka and Kerala Congress leaders, including Oommen Chandy and Ramesh Chennithala, and Muslim League's P.K. Kunjhalikutty also ascended the open van.
The half-a-kilometre journey took about 30 minutes before Rahul arrived at the collectorate and filed his nomination papers before collector A.R. Ajayakumar. It was close to 12 noon and Rahul was scheduled to leave for Nagpur by 1pm as per his schedule. As a result, there was uncertainty whether he would continue the roadshow after submitting the nomination papers.
also read
- Kerala: POCSO court hands man 106 years in prison for raping, impregnating mentally challenged girl
- Cong’s Shehzada insults Chhatrapati Shivaji, does not talk about Nawab’s atrocities: Modi
- Congress to announce Amethi, Raebareli candidates 'in a day or two'
- Who will Congress field in Amethi and Raebareli? Candidates to be finalised today
The doubts were short-lived, though. Rahul, Priyanka and the Congress leaders undertook the roadshow along from the civil station, surrounding Kalpetta town.
Undoubtedly, the roadshow can be termed as one of the largest-ever shows of support that Wayanad, a tourist destination famous for its cool weather and green surroundings, has ever witnessed. Thousands of flags of the Congress and its allies in Kerala, including the Indian Union Muslim League, swayed among the crowd.
The roadshow culminated at the SKMJ school ground were Rahul briefly addressed the media before flying to Nagpur. Talking the media, he said he felt the need to fight from Wayanad as there was a feeling in south India that the way in which governance is being done here was not right.
"I have come to Kerala to send a message that India is one—south, north, west and east. It is important that I convey this message to India. There is a feeling in south India that the way in which governance is being done here is not right. There is an assault or threat to India's culture, history and unity. There is a cultural attack on Hindustan in the way Narendra Modi is governing the country," Rahul said.
Rahul is expected to return to Wayanad only a couple of times for campaigning before Kerala goes to polls on April 23. However, Wayanad residents would get to see more of his sister Priyanka, who is expected to lead the election campaign for her brother from the south bastion.