lok-sabha-elections

Updated: May 04, 2020 22:27 IST

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra made a strong pitch for brother and party president Rahul Gandhi in Wayanad, from where he filed nomination for the Lok Sabha seat earlier this month.

Describing Rahul Gandhi as an “epitome of virtues”, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday said, “Your future will be safe in his hands.” This was the first election rally of Priyanka Gandhi VAdra in Wayanad since Rahul Gandhi filed his nomination from this seat.

She spoke at length about the her family during her speech at Wayanad and cited assassinations of former prime ministers Indira Gandhi (her grandmother) and Rajiv Gandhi (her father). The ashes of Rajiv Gandhi, who was assassinated by LTTE suicide bomber during the election campaign for the 1991 Lok Sabha elections, were immersed in a local stream, Papanasini, in Wayanad. Rahul Gandhi had offered special prayers on the banks of Papanasini earlier this week.

Also Watch | Rahul Gandhi to contest from Wayanad LS seat apart from Amethi

“I am here standing as sister. I am here for my brother. For last ten years he is working hard. He has been personally targeted. We have suffered a lot. I was 12 when my grandmother was assassinated,” said Priyanka Gandhi Vadra adding, “Seven years later my father was killed. Our family of four was deeply affected.”

She targeted the BJP saying the party made false promises to win the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. “Five years ago, a government came into power that was voted in with a big majority. In all their wisdom, people of our country placed their faith and hopes in the BJP government. That government, from the moment it came to power, began to betray that faith,” Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said.

The Congress leader said the BJP leaders including PM Modi have launched personal attacks against her family. She, however, asserted that she and Rahul Gandhi don’t have “hate” for anyone.

“He (Rahul Gandhi) took enough courage to go to other side and hugged the man (PM Modi) behind campaign against his family. My mother was insulted, my father’s martyrdom questioned,” she said.

The Congress leader made an emotional appeal to the voters of Wayanad while seeking support for Rahul Gandhi. She said, “My brother knows epics and puranas. I really doubt whether the so called custodians have such knowledge. He is black belt and a mountaineer. He is a trained pilot and an ace diver…I entrust my brother in your hands. Please support him. He will never let you down. I am sure. Support him, he will be with you.”

Before filing nomination from Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency in Kerala, the Congress president had won three parliamentary polls from Amethi seat in Uttar Pradesh. This is the first time that he is contesting from two seats.

While Wayanad goes to the polls on April 23 along with other 19 Lok Sabha seats of Kerala, Amethi will vote on May 6. The votes will be counted on May 23.