Amit Shah announces Thushar Vellappally as NDA candidate from Wayanad, will take on Rahul Gandhi
In a political battle between the two national parties, BJP president Amit Shah has announced Thushar Vellappally as the NDA candidate from Wayanad, the second constituency where Rahul Gandhi will contest.
In a statement, Amit Shah said, “I proudly announce Shri Thushar Vellappally, President of Bharat Dharma Jana Sena as NDA candidate from Wayanad (Kerala).”
The Congress had earlier announced Rahul Gandhi’s candidature from Kerala’s Wayanad, beside from Amethi in Uttar Pradesh. In a press brief, AK Antony had said that due to the increasing support and demand from the local leadership, the party took the decision.
BJP President Amit Shah tweets, "I proudly announce Shri Thushar Vellappally, President of Bharat Dharma Jana Sena as NDA candidate from Wayanad (Kerala)." (file pic) pic.twitter.com/Q1hYm87uGo
— ANI (@ANI) April 1, 2019
The BJP had alleged that Rahul Gandhi is ‘afraid’ of losing the polls in Amethi, against the BJP’s Smriti Irani, wherein the latter had unsuccessfully contested against the Congress president and lost by a margin of more than 1 lakh votes.
Although, the Left parties had cautioned the Congress over Rahul Gandhi’s candidature from Wayanad, claiming that the party is targeting the Left and it will work to ensure that Rahul Gandhi loses in Wayanad.
Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan had stated “In Kerala as we all know, the fight is between the Left and the Congress, with the BJP not in the picture at all. He should have fought against the BJP. Now that he has decided to contest from Wayanad, we the Left will see to defeat him.”
Vijayan further said, “I am sure the BJP is not going to make any inroads in Uttar Pradesh and all along Amethi has been a bastion of the Congress party.”
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First published: 1 April 2019, 15:24 IST