“The Shehzada of Congress ….”: PM Modi Slams Rahul Gandhi, Predicts his Electoral Fate in Wayanad

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, speaking at a rally in Maharashtra's Nanded, launched a scathing attack on senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, predicting his poll fate in his parliamentary constituency of Wayanad in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The Prime Minister suggested that Gandhi would have to vacate Wayanad as well, drawing parallels with his defeat in Amethi.

“The prince of Congress now knows that his future in Wayanad seems bleak, he will also have to escape from here like he did from Amethi. Trust me, he will have to leave Wayanad as well,” said the Prime Minister, predicting Rahul Gandhi’s poll fate from his Wayanad seat without naming him. “I am sure Congress will look for another safe seat for its Prince after voting in Wayanad is completed," he added.

Reflecting on the Lok Sabha elections' initial phase, Modi asserted that the electorate had overwhelmingly supported the BJP-led NDA. He hit out at the alleged internal discord within the opposition INDIA bloc, noting their divisions over a significant percentage of Lok Sabha seats.

In the meantime, Congress is yet to announce its candidates for Amethi and Rae Bareli, the former being lost by Rahul Gandhi to Smriti Irani in 2019, and the latter vacated by his mother Sonia Gandhi earlier this year.

Earlier today, Rahul Gandhi hit out at Narendra Modi, alleging that the Prime Minister is running “a school of corruption” in the country. The Wayanad MP alleged that Modi was actively involved in teaching various aspects of corruption, including the intricacies of donation collection, contract distribution, and manipulation of law enforcement agencies. Gandhi criticized the Modi government's handling of corruption-related issues, insinuating widespread corruption within the ruling dispensation. “Like-how are donations collected by conducting raids? How are contracts distributed after taking donations? How does the washing machine that washes away corrupt people work? How does the game of 'bail and jail' play out by making agencies as recovery agents?” questioned Rahul Gandhi, taking to social media platform “X”.

Wayanad, a key constituency in Southern India, is slated to go to polls in the second phase on April 26. In this phase, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, CPI's Annie Raja, and BJP's K Surendran are the primary contenders. In the 2019 elections, Rahul Gandhi emerged victorious in Wayanad with a commanding margin of 4,31,770 votes, consolidating his influence in the region. The 2024 General election is unfolding in seven phases, commencing on April 19 and concluding on June 1. Each phase has its designated dates, with the process culminating in the counting of votes and the announcement of results on June 4.​