WAYANAD: Congress to use Rahul Gandhi's first visit to Wayanad, after his disqualification from the post of MP, as a political advantage. KPCC has decided to give a grand reception to Rahul Gandhi, once he arrives at the constituency he represented until he was disqualified.

Rahul Gandhi will reach Wayanad on April 11. KPCC president K Sudhakaran informed that the workers from Wayanad, Kozhikode, Malappuram, and Kannur districts will be organized for a rally that day.

Controversies had arisen when the Lok Sabha Secretariat revoked Rahul Gandhi's membership, immediately after he was disqualified due to the defamation case. However, the court had stayed the announcement of a by-election soon after the Lok Sabha Secretariat disqualified Lakshadweep MP Mohammed Faizal. It is reported that the Commission did not announce a by-election to avoid such a setback in Wayanad as well. By-election was announced for the Jalandhar Lok Sabha seat in Punjab, which fell vacant due to the death of Congress MP Santokh Singh Chaudhary. He had collapsed and died during the Bharat Jodo Yatra.

Meanwhile, Rahul filed an appeal against the verdict of the Surat Magistrate Court in the defamation case. Two applications were made to suspend the guilty verdict and the two-year sentence. The court suspended the prison sentence and granted bail to Rahul on a bond of Rs 15,000. The bail will continue until the appeal is disposed of.