BJP had a field day on Twitter.
As reports emerged that Rahul Gandhi is likely to contest from a seat in South India, BJP supporters had a field day on Twitter. First they trended #PappuFattu and #RahulGandhiFattuHai alluding to the fact that Rahul Gandhi is running away from contest from Amethi. Later in the evening, another trend emerged prominently which was #BhaagRahulBhaag.
None other than Rahul Gandhi's arch-rival and Union Minister Smriti Irani contributed to the trend tweeting:
अमेठी ने भगाया,
— Chowkidar Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) March 23, 2019
जगह-जगह से बुलावे का स्वांग रचाया,
क्योंकि जनता ने ठुकराया। #BhaagRahulBhaag
सिंहासन खाली करो राहुल जी कि जनता आती है pic.twitter.com/oVEox3YyHh
She had tweeted a proposal adopted by Amethi Congress which supported the demand of Congress members from South India who want Rahul Gandhi to contest from there. Rahul Gandhi since 2004 has been winning from Amethi.
Smriti Irani tweeted in Hindi, 'Amethi ne Bhagaya, Jagah Jagah se bulaye ke swang rachaye, kyunki janate ne thukraya, which translates to, Rahul Gandhi forced to flee from Amethi as public has rejected him and hence all this drama of people wanting him to contest from the whole country is being scripted.
Congress has said that many leaders from South Indian states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka have urged Rahul Gandhi to contest from their states and the party is positively considering their request.
BJP though believes Rahul Gandhi unnerved by the stiff challenge thrown by Smriti Irani in Amethi is looking for a back-up option. Reports suggest that Rahul Gandhi is likely to contest from Wayanad seat in Kerala, which is known as a safe seat for Congress. CPM has reacted strongly to news of Rahul Gandhi possibly contesting from Wayanad. Kerala Chief Minister Vijayan said that Congress should think what message are they sending by making Rahul Gandhi contest from a seat where his main opponent will be Left and not BJP.
With agency inputs
1. What is the proposal adopted by Amethi Congress?
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Congress committee in Amethi has supported south India party cadres demand that Rahul Gandhi should also contest Lok Sabha election from their as well. In its letter, Congress Committee in Amethi said that former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, former Congress president Sonia Gandhi had also contested elections from south India, therefore if Rahul Gandhi does so, it will be a mark of respect for party workers in south.
2. Congress mulling South India options for Rahul Gandhi
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The Congress in Kerala has suggested party chief Rahul Gandhi's name for the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat, a party bastion in the state.
AICC General Secretary Oommen Chandy Saturday said the KPCC has requested Gandhi to contest from Wayanad but he has not yet commented on the proposal.
The Congress earlier this month had announced that Rahul Gandhi will contest from his bastion Amethi and Sonia Gandhi from Rae Bareli, also in Uttar Pradesh.
The move by Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) comes after similar pleas by party state units in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu asking Rahul Gandhi to contest from their respective states.
"There is a demand from party leaders that Gandhi should contest from any of the South Indian Lok Sabha seat and we have requested Rahul Gandhi to contest from Wayanad seat," Chandy told reporters.
3. Left unhappy with Rahul's possible candidature from Kerala
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In his reaction, Vijayan said in Kerala the LDF was the main force. "Gandhi is not coming to fight the BJP here, but the LDF," he told reporters in Kannur.
"Congress needs to think what is the message they are trying to send out. The message is that it is not the BJP they are fighting, but the LDF," he said.
CPI-M state Secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said the self-confidence of the Congress seems to have waned which was why the party wants Gandhi to contest from Amethi and Wayanad.
4. Tharoor challenges PM Modi
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Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Saturday challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to contest from Trivandrum Parliamentary constituency against him in the ensuing Lok Sabha elections. "Would Prime Minister Modi like to contest from South. If so, we welcome him in Trivandrum.
Let him come and challenge me here. I will give my good fight for his money," Tharoor, local MP, told ANI. Stating that Congress president Rahul Gandhi is confident enough of winning both North and South of the country, Tharoor said: "Well I'm delighted by the news that Rahul Gandhi will contest from a constituency in Kerala."
