Another ‘Rahul Gandhi’ who contested from Wayanad was disqualified

Rahul Gandhi K E, who contested as an Independent in 2019, was disqualified on September 9, 2021, for a period of three years.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. (PTI)

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At a time when Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification from the Lok Sabha and its fallout have been making the news, another ‘Rahul Gandhi’ who contested from the same Wayanad seat in Kerala in 2019 was also disqualified from contesting elections.

In the routine list of disqualified persons under Section 10A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, sent by the Election Commission of India (ECI) to all state chief electoral officers on March 29, a person named Rahul Gandhi K E, a resident of Kottayam, was included. He was disqualified on September 9, 2021, for a period of three years, as per the list.

Under Section 10A, those who fail to lodge the account of election expenses to the ECI after contesting an election are disqualified for a period of three years. The Congress leader’s name was not on the list. Though he was disqualified on March 23 following a conviction in a defamation case, he was given 30 days’ time to seek legal remedy by the trial court.

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Rahul Gandhi K E, then 33 years old, had contested the Lok Sabha election as an Independent candidate from Wayanad, which the Congress leader had won with over 7 lakh votes. Rahul Gandhi K E, along with one Raghul Gandhi K, was what is known as a namesake candidate – people with names similar to the front-runners in the constituency. While Rahul Gandhi K E got 2,196 votes, Raghul Gandhi K got 845 votes.

When asked about the disqualification, Rahul Gandhi K E said he had contested the 2019 polls but declined to say anything further. “I am not that Rahul Gandhi,” he said.

Damini Nath

Damini Nath is an Assistant Editor with the national bureau of The Indian Express. She covers the housing and urban affairs and Election Commission beats. She has 11 years of experience as a reporter and sub-editor. Before joining The Indian Express in 2022, she was a reporter with The Hindu’s national bureau covering culture, social justice, housing and urban affairs and the Election Commission. ... Read More

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