NEW DELHI: In a bid to improve the Congress' position in south India, party president Rahul Gandhi will contest from Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency in Kerala besides his traditional stronghold of Amethi in Uttar Pradesh.

This has put an end to eight days of confusion and unrest.

Veteran Congress leader from Kerala and former Defence Minister A.K. Antony made this announcement at a press conference here Sunday, saying Gandhi had consented to fight from Wayanad following requests from the party's state unit.

The decision is seen as an attempt by the Congress to consolidate its electoral base in south India, especially Kerala which has 20 Lok Sabha seats. Tamil Nadu has 39 Lok Sabha seats and Karnataka has 28.

"This is a message to the southern states that they are deeply valued and respected. Congress president Rahul Gandhi has said he will represent Amethi but will also represent southern states as they are an important part of India's way of life, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said.

He said Gandhi has said Amethi is his 'karmabhoomi' and he will never leave it.

This is the first time in history that a possible Prime Minister candidate is contesting from Kerala. Rahul Gandhi’s entry into the election stage of Kerala will also bring Wayanad into the spotlight nationally and internationally.

Earlier, Surjewala said the state units of Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu had requested him to contest from South India at a time when there is an attack on the language and culture from the Modi government, he said.

"This is a fight to espouse the aspirations of south India. This is a fight to give a befitting reply to those forces that attack cultures, languages, the way of life and also the deep connection between north and south India between which BJP has created a division," he said.

On BJP's criticism that Gandhi's is "not very strong" in Amethi, Surjewala said: "Why doesn't BJP answer why Modi ji left Gujarat and went to Varanasi. Does that mean that his condition was bad in Gujarat. Instead of discussing these type of immature things, they should discuss key political issues. Why is BJP so scared."

He said Wayanad has a unique geographical feature as it links all the three states of Tamil Nadu's Nilgiri, Karnataka's Mysore and has the geographical and cultural representation of the three states.

"That is why the party decided that Gandhi will, in a way, represent the three states and strengthen the unity between north and south India.

Senior Congress leader Antony said Wayanad is situated in Kerala but also surrounded by Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

"In a way, it'll satisfy the requests of three southern states," he said.

There were many requests from Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala, the former defense minister said, adding that one of the major reasons for consideration was that it is a trijunction of the three southern states.

He said when the Congress government will be formed with the blessings of 130 crore Indians, Rahul Gandhi will represent every corner of the country in a bigger way.

Congress had won eight Lok Sabha seats in Kerala in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, besides two by its ally Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) and one by Kerala Congress (Mani) and one by Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP).

The party is hoping to further consolidate its position this time in the state.