Rahul not to accuse Left-front, says need for unity

Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday has made a very diplomatic move by asserting that he will not attack the CPM-led Left front during his campaign in Kerala, even as the CPM leaders has been attacking him for the decision to contest from Kerala.

Rahul's statement at Wayanad was in the backdrop of the strong attack being unleashed against him by the Left-front leaders accusing that the decision to contest in Kerala, where the Left-front is the major political opponent, will send a wrong message that the main fight of the Congress was not against the BJP and Sangh Parivar. The Left-front feels that Rahul contesting at Wayanad would weaken the fight against BJP at the national arena.

Rahul, however, said that he decided to contest from Kerala as he wanted to give a message of unity and also that South India is important.

“The CPM and the Congress are locked in a fight in Kerala and this fight will go on. I will absorb all the attack against me with happiness. But I will not use any word against the CPM during my campaign in Kerala,” Rahul said as he ended his roadshow at Kalpetta in Wayanad constituency after submitting nomination papers for the Lok Sabha elections.

Rahul, along with Priyanka Gandhi and other senior Congress leaders, took a road show in an open vehicle along the main roads of Kalpetta town. Congress leaders in Kerala said that the massive response received by Rahul during the roadshow reflects that he would win by a majority of up to 5 lakh votes.

While is planning to come for another round of campaign in Kerala by around on April 15, other senior party leaders would be regularly campaigning in Kerala to maintaining the momentum, party sources said.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be campaigning in Kerala on April 12. He will attend public meetings at Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode. CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury is scheduled to campaign in Wayanad on April 18.

Two journalists injured

Two journalists in an open van carrying media persons along with Rahul Gandhi's roadshow were injured after they lost control.

The incident occurred towards the end of the road show as the vehicle was entering a steep entrance to a school ground where the helipad was set. Rahul himself came to the rescue of the journalists and instructed the ambulance in his motorcade to given them first aid and take to the hospital.

Those injured were identified as Rickson of India Ahead and Madhu of ANI. A large contingent of journalists from across the country came down to Wayanad Rahul's nomination filing at Wayanad.