KALPETTA: Rahul Gandhi's decision to contest from Raebareli has disappointed the UDF camp in Wayanad. Congress members received the news with great enthusiasm when Rahul Gandhi, who won by a majority of more than four lakh votes in 2019, again sought the seat in the Wayanad constituency. Rahul is more likely to win Raebareli, Sonia Gandhi's home constituency. Congress members think that Rahul will leave Wayanad in that case.

Rahul Gandhi is contesting in another constituency with a higher probability of winning after declaring that he has an emotional attachment to Wayanad. Those who requested votes for Rahul are in crisis now. They are worried whether their chances of winning will be affected if they have to face a by-election. Rahul Gandhi had also contested from Amethi in Uttar Pradesh in 2019, where Union Minister Smriti Irani defeated him. Rahul Gandhi, who was also a sitting MP, came to Wayanad as a safe constituency smelling that defeat.

BJP had raised a lot of criticism against Rahul Gandhi contesting in Wayanad. BJP had utilised the usage of the Muslim league's green flags in Rahul Gandhi's roadshow in the 2019 elections as a campaign weapon in North India. So this time the Congress did not use not only the League's flag but also its own flag in the campaign. In Wayanad, Rahul Gandhi faced CPI leader Annie Raja of the Congress-affiliated India Front. It is estimated that Rahul Gandhi's majority will drop drastically as the LDF has put up a strong fight.

Rahul's second contest will boost front's chances: PK Kunhalikutty

Muslim League National General Secretary PK Kunhalikutty said that contesting on two seats in Lok Sabha elections is normal. "Last time the Prime Minister also contested on two seats. Rahul's contest in Raebareli will increase the chances of India Front. The demand to contest on two seats was put forward by League also. This is a political decision. The Left should welcome it. It is a baseless allegation that Rahul cheated Wayanad by hiding the information about contesting. Those who say there will be a by-election in Wayanad say that Rahul will win in Raebareli too. The majority of the UDF will increase if a by-election happens in Wayanad," Kunhalikutty said.

Rahul Gandhi's betrayal: C.P.M

CPM Wayanad District Secretary P Gagarin said that Rahul Gandhi is betraying the people of Wayanad by contesting in Raebareli. "Actually, Congress and UDF should apologize to the people of Wayanad. Last time, Rahul Gandhi faced the election by announcing his candidacy in two places even before the election. This time, he was silent about contesting in the other place until the elections in Kerala were over. Rahul contested here saying that the people of Wayanad are his family. Our position was that Rahul should not have contested in Wayanad. Rahul should have contested in Amethi, Raebareli or any other constituency in North India. That was the political etiquette that the Congress should have shown in today's political situation," Gagarin said in a press release.