BJP leader K Surendran criticized the Congress party's decision to field Priyanka Gandhi Vadra from Wayanad after Rahul Gandhi vacated the seat to retain his Rae Bareli constituency. The BJP seized the opportunity to mock the Congress, with Surendran suggesting that the party might next consider Priyanka’s husband, Robert Vadra, for the Palakkad Assembly bypoll.Â
In a post on social media platform X, Surendran remarked, "Mr Rahul Gandhi claimed that Wayanad is his family. Now he has decided on the candidature of his own sister Priyanka Gandhi for the upcoming by-election in Wayanad. Hope that Mr Rahul will field his brother-in-law Robert Vadra in the Palakkad by-election. Now people clearly understand 'Rahul's family sentiments.' It's once again proven beyond doubt that the Congress is merely a tool for the Nehru-Gandhi family to serve their own interests. Pathetic."
Robert Vadra, responding to the BJP's jibe, expressed his support for Priyanka's candidacy in Wayanad. When asked about his own potential political future, Vadra indicated that he might consider entering Parliament at an appropriate time. He further commented, "They're (BJP) worried, troubled. They're huddling together to understand what next we can do. Priyanka will be raising important issues. She gave the slogan - Ladki hoon, lad sakti hoon. She has long fought for women's rights. The BJP should review their history before accusing others of dynastic politics. People are tired of their rhetoric. We will fight to ensure a secular government."
The Congress announced on Monday that Rahul Gandhi would vacate the Wayanad seat to continue as the Member of Parliament for Rae Bareli. This decision opens the door for Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to make her electoral debut in the Wayanad by-polls.
The BJP has vehemently condemned the Congress's decision, labelling it as another instance of dynastic politics. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala remarked, "It proves that the Congress is not a party but a family company."Â
Furthermore, former Union Minister and BJP leader Rajeev Chandrasekhar accused the Congress of deceiving the public of Wayanad and concealing their true intentions. In a post on X, he wrote, "There is shamelessness and then there is Congress-type shamelessness - imposing one member after another of their dynasty on the voters of Wayanad, after shamelessly hiding the fact that Rahul was contesting from another constituency."
Rahul Gandhi had won both the Wayanad and Rae Bareli constituencies and was required to vacate one of the seats within 14 days of the Lok Sabha results, which were announced on June 4.
