Surrounded by cheering locals and excited party workers, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday filed his nomination papers from the northern Kerala constituency of Wayanad. Rahul submitted his nomination papers before the district collector of Wayanad A.R. Ajayakumar at the collectorate complex in Kalpetta.
Earlier in the day, Rahul landed to an excited crowd of locals and party workers at SKMJ school ground in Wayanad. Strict security arrangements were in place in Kalpetta on account of Rahul's filing of nominations. As per security arrangements, Rahul and sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were supposed to head to the collectorate complex in private vehicles.
However, Rahul decided to get into an open vehicle at the last moment, to acknowledge the huge crowd that had assembled in Kalpetta. Priyanka and Kerala Congress leaders, including Oommen Chandy and Ramesh Chennithala, too got into the open van as the road show proceeded to the collectorate complex.
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After filing his nomination, Rahul is expected to continue the road show with Priyanka from the collectorate complex. Security has been heightened for the event, with additional police personnel being brought in from adjoining districts. The police had asked for the road show to be curtailed, citing Maoist activity in the area.
After much speculations and delay, the Congress had announced on March 31 that Rahul would contest from Wayanad, in addition to his current constituency of Amethi in Uttar Pradesh.
Rahul And Priyanka arrived at the Calicut International Airport in Kozhikode on Wednesday night and received a rousing welcome from leaders of the main opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) alliance in Kerala.
