'Select Robert Vadra to contest Palakkad by-poll'; BJP state president K Surendran scoffs at Congress

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: BJP state president K Surendran denounced the Congress party for announcing Priyanka Gandhi as the candidate for the Wayanad by-poll. Surendran termed the grand old party as a ‘tool’ to protect the interests of the Nehru-Gandhi family. The BJP Kerala chief also took a jibe, asking Rahul Gandhi to select Priyanka’s husband Robert Vadra to contest the Palakkad by-election.

“Rahul Gandhi claims that Wayanad is his family. They have decided to field Priyanka Gandhi in the Wayanad by-election. If this is the trend, Rahul should be ready to field his sister's husband Robert Vadra in the Palakkad by-election. Once again it has been proved beyond any doubt that the Congress party is only a tool to protect the interests of the Nehru-Gandhi family” said K Surendran.

Meanwhile, Senior leader K Muraleedharan said that he will not contest the Palakkad by-polls and will campaign for Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi in Wayanad. No Congressman can stay away when the Nehru family is in the race, clarified Murali in an interview given to the media.

'Will not contest the Palakkad by-polls. There are a lot of youngsters to compete there. Vattiyoorkavu is my family. I was with Vattiyoorkavu in its joys and sorrows. Will be active there. Will campaign for Priyanka Gandhi in Wayanad. When one from the Nehru family is contesting, no Congressman can stay away, said Murali. He added that there is a need for major changes in the organizational level of the party.