With just days left for the Lok Sabha elections, the Congress party seems to be still in a state of confusion over finding a safe seat for its President Rahul Gandhi. As Smriti Irani’s acceptability in Amethi has grown in the last few years, Congress party believes that it is extremely tough for Rahul Gandhi to retain his seat.
According to a Times Now report, Congress Party has finally arrived at a decision to field Rahul Gandhi from Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency as it is believed to be a traditional Congress bastion comprising of over 50 per cent of minority votes.
In a sting video, a senior Congress Party leader can be seen saying Congress President Rahul Gandhi is facing pressure in Amethi and has to find a safe seat, implying that he should contest from Wayanad as Hindus form a minority in Wayanad constituency which will ensure an easy victory for Rahul Gandhi.
Insider spills the beans: ‘Wayanad safe seat for Rahul Gandhi’: Majeed, Member of Kerala District Congress Committee | #RahulFearsAmethi pic.twitter.com/PyjDIEqR4S
— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) March 26, 2019
“The total Christian-Muslim vote is about 50%. It comes to around 54% which makes easier for Rahul. And the thing is there are 8% Adivasis who are with us. Actually, Wayanad has been a Congress stronghold since 1957,” said a Congress leader in Times Now sting video.
“We have done the preliminary steps. If Rahul Gandhi decides to comes here. If Rahul Gandhi decides to fight from here, there is no need for campaigning,” added Kerala Congress leader.
The Congress leader said that BJP is taking all measures to corner Rahul Gandhi as several leaders even from Amethi Congress have now joined BJP, so Rahul Gandhi is surely looking for a safe seat to contest from. He also said that from Wayanad, SDPI would also support the Congress party.
It should be remembered that members of Islamist outfit SDPI were arrested for the brutal murder of 20-year-old student leader Abhimanyu. Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), the political wing of the Muslim extremist organisation Popular Front of India (PFI), which has been accused of spreading Islamist terror, has also been accused of sending death threats to Kerala based inter-faith couple Harrison, a Christian and Shahana. Its parent organisation, PFI has been indicted in several cases. For example, the NIA in its chargesheet had indicted PFI members for a larger conspiracy behind the murder of Munnani activist. India Today had even exposed the organization for engaging in the brainwashing and conversion of Hindu women through its network of illegal financing
Congress President Rahul Gandhi is reportedly looking for a safe seat as Congress party believes that winning Amethi against Union Minister Smriti Irani will be a herculean task for Rahul Gandhi. Hence, Congress Party is on a contingency plan to field Rahul Gandhi from Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency, which has 29% Muslim votes and another 21% Christian votes.
It is interesting to see that Congress President Rahul Gandhi, who had indulged in soft-Hindutva with a ‘Temple run’ right before Gujarat elections and claims to be Janeudhari Brahmin, has lately toned down his pro-Hindutva image to garner the traditional Congress votes of Muslims and Christians. Addition to that, Congress party leaders also believe that Rahul Gandhi victory is easily ensured only in those constituencies where half of the total voters are either Muslims or belong to other minorities groups.
Congress party seems to have understood that Rahul Gandhi will be facing a tough fight in Amethi as not only Smriti Irani has better traction in these regions but also these constituencies are majorly comprised with Hindu vote bank. As the chances of Rahul Gandhi defeating Smriti Irani in Amethi is getting tough day after day, Congress party seems to have realised that it is easy for Rahul Gandhi to pull an easy victory from constituencies where minority votes are much larger compared to Hindu votes.
