INDIA bloc adopts double stance in Kerala and Delhi, says Smriti Irani
BJP’s Wayanad Lok Sabha candidate K. Surendran submits his nomination papers after a roadshow. Union Minister comes down heavily on Congress' alleged duplicity inside and outside Kerala, while inaugurating the roadshow
Irani challenged Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to reject the support offered by the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) in Kerala to the United Democratic Front for the upcoming polls.
‘Together in Delhi’
Coming down heavily on the alleged double stance adopted by the alliance inside and outside Kerala, Ms. Irani said, “In Delhi, you all are together and in Kerala you fight each other. Who is your Prime Ministerial candidate, the Opposition INDIA bloc must answer.”
“I come from the constituency where Gandhis have been there for four decades. In Amethi, the collectorate office was made after the Modi government came to power. For the past 50 years, Gandhis called Amethi their family but what did they do for them?,”she asked.
"Now Mr. Gandhi says Wayanad is his family. They have betrayed Amethi by calling them family and now they will betray Wayanad,” said the Union Minister.
Two candidates
“There are two candidates in Wayanad from the Opposition,” Ms. Irani said.
“If Mr. Gandhi is not acceptable to the alliance for the Prime Minister candidature, why should Wayanad accept him,” she said.
“The Gandhis are so desperate to win, so they are taking help from a political party of a banned organisation,” alleged Ms. Irani.
Thousands of National Democratic Alliance workers took part in the roadshow.
Mr. Surendran submitted his nominations papers to Wayanad Collector and District Election Officer Renu Raj at the collectorate on Thurday after the roadshow.
The Union Minister and State BJP leaders accompanied him.
Forecast for Friday: Heavy rainfall/snowfall likely at isolated places over Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Meghalaya. Thunderstorm with lightning/gusty winds likely at isolated places over Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura and Sikkim. Hot and humid weather likely to prevail over coastal Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Kerala