Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is set to re-enter the electoral arena by contesting in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls from Wayanad, according to AICC general secretary Tariq Anwar, who oversees Kerala. Anwar confirmed this decision during an interview with a prominent TV channel, emphasizing Gandhi's strong connection and affection for the people of Wayanad.
Responding to queries about the possibility of Gandhi contesting from another North Indian constituency, Anwar expressed uncertainty but acknowledged that, as a senior party leader, the final decision rests with Gandhi himself.
Regarding the potential candidacy of AICC general secretary (organization) K.C. Venugopal, Anwar downplayed the likelihood, stating that the party is not particularly enthusiastic about it. Venugopal, currently a member of the Upper House from Rajasthan, did not contest in 2019 due to his commitments to party work, and Anwar suggested a similar scenario this time.
Addressing the question of whether sitting MP from Kannur and State party president K. Sudhakaran will run for re-election, Anwar asserted that the decision lies with Sudhakaran himself.
In a related development, Congress veteran Rajmohan Unnithan, the Lok Sabha member from Kasargod, disclosed that the AICC has unofficially signaled that 15 sitting MPs from Kerala will seek re-election, while Sudhakaran may not. In the 2019 elections, the Congress-led UDF secured victory in 19 out of Kerala's 20 Lok Sabha seats, with the exception of Alappuzha. However, midway through the term, the Kerala Congress (Mani) party, a Congress ally, shifted allegiance to the CPI(M)-led Left, resulting in Thomas Chazhikadan, the Kottayam Lok Sabha member from that party, becoming a Left Democratic Front MP.
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