BJP's CR Kesavan criticizes Priyanka Gandhi's Wayanad bypoll bid, citing language barriers, absenteeism concerns

Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], October 16 (ANI): BJP national spokesperson CR Kesavan criticised Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra for contesting the bypoll in the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat and raised questions about her suitability, citing concerns about her language skills and potential absenteeism.
Kesavan highlighted the challenges that Priyanka Gandhi may face in connecting with the local population, particularly given her non-native language proficiency in Malayalam.
"Do the people of Wayanad need a language translator to speak in their mother tongue Malayalam to interact with their new MP? Do the people of Wayanad need a feudal-like absentee landlord who hardly spends any time in the constituency? These are the foremost questions in the minds of Wayanad's voters," the BJP leader said in a self-made video on Wednesday.
"She will hardly stay in the constituency. She will not be there throughout the year. This is why the people know that she will not be able to address, tackle problems and be of any use to the constituency," he added.
Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Congress in-charge Avinash Pandey expressed happiness about Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's contesting the Lok Sabha bypoll from Wayanad in Kerala and expressed confidence that the people of the region will support her.
Speaking to ANI, Pandey said, "Priyanka Ji is our national leader and it is a matter of joy that she will represent Wayanad, just like Rahul Gandhi. She is a Congress candidate from there. We are sure that the people of Wayanad will bless her and give her a chance to make their voices heard in the Parliament."
Congress on Tuesday announced that party leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will contest the bypoll in the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat.
The seat was vacated by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi after he was also elected to Lok Sabha from Raebareli in Uttar Pradesh in the general elections held earlier this year.
A party press release said that Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has approved candidature of Priyanka Gandhi from Wayanad.
The party also announced two candidates for assembly bypolls in Kerala.
Rahul Gandhi had won Lok Sabha polls from Wayanad in 2019. In this year's Lok Sabha polls he won from Wayanad and Raebareli. He is Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha.
Wayanad will go to the polls on November 13 along with voting for bye-elections in 47 assembly seats across 15 states. The first phase of assembly polls in Jharkhand will also be held on November 13.
If Priyanka Gandhi wins Lok Sabha polls, she will be the third MP from the Gandhi family in the current Parliament. Sonia Gandhi is a member of Rajya Sabha.
Priyanka Gandhi had taken care of family strongholds of Amethi and Raebareli before plunging in active politics. She has continued her links with the two constituencies.
Earlier, Rahul Gandhi had expressed confidence of Priyanka Gandhi winning from Wayanad.
"Priyanka Gandhi is going to fight the elections and I am confident that she is going to win the elections. The people of Wayanad can think that they have two members of the Parliament, one is my sister and the other is me. My doors are always open for the people of Wayanad, I love every single person in Wayanad," he said.
The results for Wayanad seat, along with other assembly and Lok Sabha seats, will be declared on November 23. (ANI)