In a significant development, former Congress President Rahul Gandhi visited his former constituency, Wayanad in Kerala, for the first time since his disqualification as an MP over a 2019 criminal defamation case. He was accompanied by his sister and Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.
During a roadshow called 'Satyameva Jayate', hundreds of United Democratic Front (Congress-led state opposition alliance) workers and supporters turned up with Indian flags in support of Gandhi. Despite his recent conviction and sentencing to two years in jail by a Surat court over his 'Modi surname' remark, Gandhi remained unfazed and confident.
In his address to the constituents, Gandhi said, "MP is just a tag. It's a position, it's a post. The BJP can take away the tag, the position, the house, or they can put me in jail. But they cannot stop me from representing the people of Wayanad."
He further criticized the BJP, stating that they have been unable to understand their opponent despite fighting them for years. "They think that they will scare me by sending the police to my house. They think by taking away my house I will be disturbed. My sister didn't tell you but I was happy they took my house. It was not interesting for me to live in that house," he added.
Gandhi also spoke about his previous questioning of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's relationship with businessman Adani. He explained, "In my speech in parliament, I used media reports to show how Mr Adani, who was 609th on the list of wealthiest people in the world, became number 2 on it. I gave examples of how the prime minister himself facilitated this growth."
The former Congress chief concluded by saying that he knows he is doing something right when the BJP attacks him constantly. "How do I know what I am doing is correct? I know if the BJP is taking away my house, disqualifying me as an MP, attacking me 24 hours, I know I am doing something right," he said.
In conclusion, Rahul Gandhi's visit to Wayanad and his defiant statements demonstrate his determination to continue fighting for the people he represents despite facing setbacks and challenges. His roadshow received massive support from his constituents, indicating that he still holds considerable sway in his former constituency.