"I don't think people of Wayanad are ready to be fooled again": Rajeev Chandrasekhar slams Priyanka Gandhi's Wayanad nomination

New Delhi [India], October 23 (ANI): BJP leader Rajeev Chandrasekhar criticised Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's nomination filing in Wayanad, calling it an attempt to "hoodwink the people of Wayanad again."
He claimed that Wayanad would now be sceptical of supporting Vadra after her brother, Rahul Gandhi, abandoned them following his term as MP.
"I don't think the people of Wayanad are ready to be fooled again," he said.
Chandrasekhar praised the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate, Navya Haridas, highlighting how qualified and competent she is and hailed her experience as a public servant.
"The NDA has put forth a very, very competent, very, very dynamic, very hard-working candidate," he said, stressing the contrast between Haridas and Vadra, referring to Vadra as an "entitled dynast" who has done nothing significant in her life.
"One is an entitled dynast who has done nothing in her life but still wants to parachute in because it is a minority-dominated constituency. On the other hand, the NDA candidate is a hardworking, self-made professional who has served the people of Kerala for many years as a councillor."
Chandrasekhar expressed doubt about Gandhi's ability to win the support of Wayanad residents after Rahul Gandhi's tenure. He said, "This is the difference, and I hope the people of Wayanad know the difference, recognize the difference, and support the right candidate for the NDA."
He added, "Priyanka Gandhi hasn't gained the respect of the people of Wayanad, especially after Rahul Gandhi abandoned them during his five years as their MP and again as an MP candidate in the 2024 election. It's difficult for someone who hasn't achieved anything for others."
The BJP leader said, "People of Wayanad are not people who can simply be fooled by statements like 'my heart is here, my head is there,' etc." He criticized Priyanka Gandhi for her lack of action on women's issues, claiming that the Congress party remains silent when their allies are involved in such matters.
He also asserted that the people of Wayanad would likely support Haridas due to her qualifications and commitment to the region. "I think the people of Wayanad will certainly support Navya Haridas because she's a much more competent person," he said. "She speaks Malayalam and is committed to working hard for the people of Wayanad, while Priyanka Gandhi is not from Kerala and doesn't know the problems of Wayanad."
Earlier in the day, leaders of the Kerala unit of Congress expressed their excitement ahead of Priyanka Gandhi's nomination filing and said that the moment would be written in golden letters.
Party MP Jebi Mather told ANI, "The whole energy that you see is something we all have been waiting for. We always wanted Priyanka Gandhi to contest from anywhere and be in the Lok Sabha, but we never expected that the luck would come to us. We are all very excited. There is enthusiasm all over, energy reverberating across Wayanad. It's double luck for Wayanad and also for Kerala because it will be written in golden letters - Priyanka Gandhi, Member of Lok Sabha, Wayanad, Kerala..."
Congress MP Kishori Lal Sharma told ANI, "It is a matter of happiness for us that our leader will debut in Parliament. Like in Amethi and Rae Bareli, there is enthusiasm among people in Wayanad...Priyanka ji is not new in politics, she has been in active politics...When a big leader goes to a state, it makes an impact..."
Congress leader Pramod Tiwari described Priyanka Gandhi as an extraordinary talent. "Today is an important day for Priyanka ji, but it is an even bigger day for the Parliament of India. I thank Rahul ji and Sonia ji that they are bringing Priyanka ji. I have worked with her in Uttar Pradesh. She has the courage, bravery, and power to speak the truth, and she makes the biggest statements in parliamentary language. An extraordinary talent is entering the Parliament of India," Tiwari told ANI.
The Wayanad seat was vacated by LoP Rahul Gandhi, who retained the Rae Bareli Lok Sabha Constituency. Gandhi is up against Navya Haridas, a candidate fielded by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and Left Democratic Front's (LDF) candidate Sathyan Mokeri. Haridas is a two-time Kozhikode Corporation councillor.
Priyanka Gandhi was responsible for taking care of the Gandhi family's stronghold in Amethi and Rae Bareli before entering active politics, where she emerged as an important strategist for her party. The by-poll in Wayanad is scheduled to be held on November 13. (ANI)