The Hindu (Kozhikode)

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

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Union Minister for Women and Child Developmen­t Smriti Irani has made a scathing attack on the INDIA bloc, especially the Congress, on their alleged duplicity regarding political understand­ing in Delhi and Kerala.

Inaugurate­d

Speaking after inaugurati­ng a roadshow led by K. Surendran, Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) candidate for the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituen­cy and the party’s State president, Ms.

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 consti

Smriti Irani.

tuency 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:

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