CPM to ask Rahul: Will you keep Wayanad?

Thiruvananthapuram: The CPM state secretariat has decided to focus on ‘Will Rahul keep Wayanad?’ campaign to trap AICC president Rahul Gandhi. CPM will soon design a campaign that will focus on the repeated assertions made by Rahul and his aides that Amethi would remain his ‘karmabhoomi’ forever and ask what would happen if Rahul got elected from both constituencies.
The CPM calculates that such a campaign will have far reaching impact within the constituency as chances are high for Rahul quitting Wayanad if elected from both constituency. “The issue relates with the pride of Wayanad voters. Why should he vote for a candidate who is sure to quit in a week or so?” asked a CPM leader. The LDF candidate P P Suneer is a resident of the constituency and the campaign would indirectly demand voters to elect a trusted local as their representative than be deceived by a fancy outsider.

The secretariat which reviewed the election campaign preparations in Wayanad also decided to bring general secretary Sitaram Yechury for campaigning in the constituency. Apart from chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan and state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, four PB members have already scheduled to campaign in Wayanad. As per original schedule, Yechury was not supposed to campaign in Wayanad. But, the secretariat concluded that Yechury’s campaign at Wayanad is important, especially since he is the tallest CPM leader who keeps a cordial relation with the Nehru family. Yechury would campaign in North Kerala from April 18 to 20. Sources said he would campaign in Wayanad on April 18.

The secretariat also discussed the controversy triggered by LDF convener A Vijayaraghavan and found that the remarks he had made against Alathur UDF candidate Ramya Haridas were unnecessary. However, there wouldn’t be a public statement disowning Vijayaraghavan as his statement clarifying the incident was found satisfactory. The state secretariat cautioned all leaders to keep extra vigil while speaking in public functions.

Meanwhile, veteran leader V S Achuthanandan said remarks of LDF convener had been improper. “If the remark of visiting Kunhalikutty defamed the candidate, it is a serious remark. The LDF convener should show more vigil in such issues”, VS said in a Facebook post.