Supporters throng the streets of Kalpetta to welcome Rahul Gandhi. (Source: Twitter/ Rahul Gandhi – Wayanad)
Rahul Gandhi in Wayanad HIGHLIGHTS: On his three-day visit to Kerala, Congress president Rahul Gandhi held a roadshow in Wayanad on Saturday and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi represents the worst sentiment of the country — anger, lies and intolerance. He added “At a national level, we’re fighting poison. Narendra Modi uses poison, I’m using a strong word but Mr Narendra Modi uses poison of hatred to divide this country.”
This is Rahul’s first visit after winning from Wayanad in the Lok Sabha elections. He plans to meet and thank the people of the state and his constituency, Wayanad. “Even though I belong to the Congress party our doors will be open for every single citizen of Wayanad, regardless of their age, regardless of where they come from, regardless of what ideology they come from,” ANI quoted Rahul as saying.
Scheduled to meet people and party workers in Wayanad, Rahul has planned his three-day visit packed with public receptions. The Congress chief will hold roadshows and meetings in Kalikavu, Nilambur, Edavanna and Areekode during the day. Rahul Gandhi won the Wayanad seat with a margin of 4.31 lakh votes but had to concede defeat to BJP’s Smriti Irani in his traditional stronghold seat of Amethi.
Congress chief Rahul Gandhi. (Express file photo)
Young fans catch up with Rahul Gandhi in Sultan Bathery.
Rahul Gandhi stops for a snack break at a tea shop in Sulthan Bathery, Wayanad.
“At the national level, we are fighting poison. Modi’s campaign was filled with lies, poison, hatred and divided the people of the country. He used lies in the election… Congress stood for truth, love and affection,” Gandhi said addressing a crowd in Wayanad’s Kalpetta. At Kambalakadu, Gandhi said there are big challenges in Wayanad which can be resolved by working together. “My job is to represent all of Wayanad. People from all parties supported me in the election. There are big challenges and issues in Wayanad. We will work together and solve everything,” he said. Read more...
"I’m humbled by the love & affection showered on me by the people of Wayanad, as I tour the constituency," Rahul Gandhi tweets.
In Panamaram, the streets were chock-a-block with Rahul Gandhi supporters.
Together with the help of Wayanad, Rahul Gandhi will strengthen his resolve to work for the constituency, the Congress president said.
"My job and the job of Congress workers is to bring the country together," said Rahul Gandhi in Mananthavady. Rahul is on his second day of his three-day visit to Wayanad.
Rahul Gandhi expresses his gratitude to his supporters in Kalpetta for choosing him to represent them in the parliament.
"PM Modi represents the worst sentiment of the country-- anger, lies and intolerance," said Rahul at the roadshow. Criticising Modi, he said, "Modi may have money, he may have the media by his side, he may have rich friends. But the Congress will continue to fight against the intolerance created by the BJP."
"The intolerance created by BJP and Modi will be dealt by the Congress party with love and affection," Rahul added.
Congress leader and former MLA from Wayanad, K C Rosakutty too lauded Rahul and said the Gandhi scion had proved that he can be approached by everyone. She said the party chief met people and heard their grievances.
"He asked about pending issues regarding the constituency and we briefed him about it. Farmer suicides, waiving of agriculture loans, reinstating of fertiliser subsidy, Nilambur-Nachancode rail line, super specialty hospital on the model of AIIMS are some of the long-pending demands of Wayanad," she said.
"We hope that as an MP, he will effectively intervene into the issues of the constituency," she added.
(With PTI inputs)
(Source: twitter/ Rahul Gandhi - Wayanad)
Rahul arrived t the MP facilitation centre in the district Collectorate in Wayanad and accepted memorandums and complaints from people.
The Congress president held discussions with local representatives, party leaders and officials of the district and gathered information on varied issues. Representatives of farmers, tribals and other marginalised sections of the high-range constituency were among those who visited and appraised him about their issues.
"Cutting across politics, a large number of people came to meet Rahul Gandhi and appraised him about their issues. Among the issues were some which have to be raised in Parliament... some others have to be taken up with the union government to find solutions," senior Congress leader K C Venugopal told reporters.
"Gandhi listened to their complaints patiently and ensured them to intervene as their MP," he added.
(Source: Twitter/Rahul Gandhi - Wayanad)
"He (Modi) uses anger & hatred to divide the people of this country. He uses lies to win election. He represents the worst sentiments of this country. He represents anger, he represents hatred, he represents insecurity and he represents lies," Rahul said.
Congress president Rahul Gandhi Saturday held a roadshow at Kalpetta in Wayanad and while addressing a gathering he said the party's door are always open for every citizen of Wayanad, regardless of their age, ideologies and where they come from. Further, he said that at a national level " we are fighting poison".
"Even though I belong to the Congress party our doors will be open for every single citizen of Wayanad, regardless of their age, regardless of where they come from, regardless of what ideology they come from. At the national level we're fighting poison. Mr Narendra Modi uses poison, I'm using a strong word but Mr Narendra Modi uses poison of hatred to divide this country."
On his second day in Wayanad, Rahul Gandhi meets people and party workers and takes blessings from the well-wishers.
(Source: Twitter/Rahul Gandhi - Wayanad)
On his three-day visit to Kerala, Rahul is set to begin his meetings with the delegations at Wayanad Collectorate Office for a meeting.
Thank you for staying tuned to our Live blog. Fresh updates from the Congress chief's three-day visit in the state will begin tomorrow morning as Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to meet delegates at the Wayanad Collectorate Office.
Rahul Gandhi's first day in Kerala ends with massive support from the people of Areekode.
Congress chief Rahul Gandhi addresses the people of Nilambur.
Braving heavy rains, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi took out a roadshow in Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency on Friday, thanking voters for electing him with a massive majority. Gandhi, who travelled in a special open vehicle along with state Congress leaders, crisscrossed through the narrow lanes of Kalikavu in the district and waved to the huge crowd. Thousands, including women and children, overcame the downpour to catch a glimpse of the leader who arrived in the high range constituency on a three-day tour for the ceremonial thanksgiving to the electorate. A large number of people could be seen patiently waiting for hours for Gandhi on either side of the water-logged roads and on the terrace and balconies of nearby buildings to welcome their new MP. (PTI)
Congress chief Rahul Gandhi greets crowd in Nilambur.
"The current government and Mr Narendra Modi spread hatred in the country and the Congress party knows and understands that the only way to combat hatred is through love and affection. We're committed to defending space of opposition, defending weak people in this country, defending people who are under attack by Mr Modi's policies and Mr Modi himself. I look forward to representing you and working with you to build a better Wayanad," says Rahul Gandhi in Nilambur. (ANI)
Rahul Gandhi’s travel programme in Wayanad tomorrow:
· 8:45 am: Meeting with Delegations at MPs Facilitation Centre, Wayanad Collectorate Office
· 9:45 am: Reception at New Bus Stand, Tri Junction, Kalpetta
· 10:15 am: Reception at Keltron Valav, Tri Junction, Kambalakkad
· 11:00 am: Reception at Near Anju Kunna SBI Branch, Panamaram
· 1:00 pm: Reception at Panchayat Bus Stand, Mananthavady
· 2:30 pm: Reception at Cooperative Road, Pulpally
· 4:00 pm: Reception at Market, Sultan Bathery
"No matter which part you come from, overwhelmingly you have given me your support. My door is open to every single citizen of Wayanad. As I am MP from Kerala, it is my responsibility to raise not only issues of Wayanad people, but also the people of Kerala in the Lok Sabha. Getting to know you better and understanding your issued and working with you to improve your lives. My job is to listen to the people of Wayanad and speak with the voice of the people of Wayanad. Thank you for all the love and affection that you have shown me so quickly," said Rahul Gandhi in Kalikavu. (ANI)
WATCH: Congress president Rahul Gandhi stops at a tea shop for a break in Kerala's Malappuram district.
Congress chief stops for a tea break
Light rainfall in Kerala has delayed Congress chief Rahul Gandhi's roadshow by an hour. The Congress president is on a three-day visit to the southern state to thank the people of the state and his constituency Wayanad for electing him to Parliament. This is Rahul’s first visit to the constituency after the Lok Sabha elections.
Kalikavu crowds waits to meet Rahul Gandhi
Rahul Gandhi meets the people of Wandoor. He is on a three-day Kerala visit to thank the people of the state for electing him from Wayanad.
Congress President Rahul Gandhi arrives in Kerala.
It's significant that both Gandhi and PM Modi will arrival in the same time-frame in Kerala. For both of them, it's their first visit to the southern state after the election results.
On Saturday, Gandhi will spend his time, addressing public receptions across Wayanad district. He will start the morning at the MP's facilitation centre in Kalpetta followed by the reception in the town. Receptions will follow at Kambalakkad, Panamaram, a lunch break at Mananthavadi, Pulpally and then the final reception at Sulthan Bathery. He will be coming back to Kalpetta for the stay at night.
Congress president Rahul Gandhi has landed at the Karippur International Airport in Kozhikode. As he stepped out, he was accompanied by PK Kunhalikutty, Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) MP from Malappuram. IUML is the party's longest ally in Kerala. Gandhi is in Kerala for three days. His first public programme has been set up at Kalikavu in Wandoor Assembly segment in Malappuram district. He's expected to lead a roadshow from Kalikavu, passing through towns like Nilambur, Edavanna and concluding at Areekode. However, permission for roadshow at night has been declined by security forces. A delegation of the IUML is expected to meet Gandhi to request him to continue as the AICC president.
A day after the election results were announced, Rahul expressed his gratitude to the people of Wayanad for choosing him as their representative in the Lok Sabha. “I respect the mandate of the people. Congratulations to all the winners. I thank everyone in Wayanad for electing me as their MP. I would also like to thank all Congress workers for their hard work in the election,” he had tweeted in Malayalam.
When the results of the Lok Sabha elections were announced last month, Congress emerged on top in Kerala, snatching victories in 15 out of the 16 seats it contested, with an impeccable strike rate of 93.75 per cent. Its allies in the state, the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), Kerala Congress (M) and the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP), added four more seats to the tally, making it 19 out of the 20 parliamentary seats in the state — a dream run for their coalition, the UDF, in Kerala. But the irony remained on the ground that even as the Congress celebrated its sweep across Kerala, it had no answers to the tsunami-like effect the BJP had on the national electorate. Kerala earned the rare distinction of being the lone state contributing double digits to the party’s tally. Punjab and Tamil Nadu came a distant second with eight seats each. Click here to know more.
Taking note of Congress president’s request, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan later directed the district collector to probe circumstances that led to the suicide of the farmer, and also sought a report on the same. In a letter dated May 31 to the Congress chief, the Chief Minister wrote, “I have asked the District Collector, Wayanad, to conduct a detailed inquiry into the suicide of V.D. Dinesh Kumar and submit a report to the Government at the earliest for taking further action including any financial assistance.” Read full story here.
On June 1, Rahul had written to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, demanding an inquiry into the circumstances that led to the suicide of a farmer in his Lok Sabha Constituency recently. He has also urged the Chief Minister to find “long-term measures” to free farmers from the “vicious dept trap” that they are caught in. “There have been a spate of farmer suicides in Wayanad due to an inability to repay loans. What is disturbing is that while the Government of Kerala has announced a moratorium on repayment of farm loans till December 31, 2019, yet farmers are still being pressurised and hounded by loan collection agents,” he wrote. Read full story here.
The Prime Minister, on the other hand, is expected to land at the Naval air base in Kochi tonight, around 11 pm and proceed to the Ernakulam Guest House where he will spend the night. On Saturday morning, he will fly by chopper from the naval base airport to the helipad constructed near the Guruvayur temple. Along with offering prayers at the temple, Modi is also expected to perform a ‘thulabharam’ (a ritual with weighing scales) using lotus flowers. PM Modi has visited the temple in the past during his stint as the chief minister of Gujarat.
Following suit, Narendra Modi will also make his first visit to Kerala after his re-election as Prime Minister. He is expected to offer prayers at the Sree Krishna Temple in Guruvayur on Saturday.
The Congress chief is expected to reach Malappuram this afternoon where he is scheduled to hold a series of meetings. He will hold roadshows and meetings in Kalikavu, Nilambur, Edavanna and Areekode during the day. Rahul Gandhi had won the Wayanad seat with a margin of 4.31 lakh votes but had to concede defeat to BJP’s Smriti Irani in his traditional stronghold seat of Amethi.
Taking to Twitter, Rahul announced, "I will be in Wayanad, Kerala starting this afternoon and till Sunday to meet citizens & Congress Party workers. It’s a packed schedule with over 15 public receptions planned over the next 3 days."
Congress chief Rahul Gandhi will embark on a three-day trip to Kerala today to thank the people of the state and his constituency Wayanad for electing him to Parliament. This is Rahul’s first visit to the constituency after the Lok Sabha elections. Follow our blog to get all the latest updates.