The BJP claims that the Congress disrespected Mallikarjun Kharge by making him wait outside a room while Priyanka Gandhi filed her nomination papers. Yet, India Today’s correspondent provides a different account of the events.
In Short
- Priyanka Gandhi submitted the documents required for her candidacy in the Wayanad elections on Wednesday.
- Kharge is captured in a video waiting outside the collector’s office, as shared by the BJP.
- This content suggests that it demonstrates Congress’s animosity towards Dalits.
The BJP has alleged that the Congress showed disregard towards its leader Mallikarjun Kharge when a video surfaced depicting the Dalit leader waiting outside the room while Priyanka Gandhi was submitting her nomination papers for the Wayanad bypolls. The video, circulated by numerous BJP figures including Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, was used to criticize the Congress for allegedly holding animosity towards Dalits.
During the nomination filing process for Priyanka on Wednesday, some social media users opted to share images of Kharge alongside Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. Nevertheless, a firsthand account from India Today’s reporter present during the event provides insight into what transpired.
After her brother Rahul Gandhi vacated the seat, Priyanka Gandhi is now vying in the Wayanad by-elections. Following a rally, she was expected to reach the Kalpetta district collector’s office at 1 pm to submit her nomination.
Midway through Kharge’s speech at the rally, Priyanka, who was running late, left the event. Accompanied by her husband, Robert Vadra, and their son, she reached the collector’s office at 1.24 pm.
As per the regulations of the Election Commission, the nomination filing process is recorded on video. Candidates affiliated with a recognized national or state party require only one proposer.
Upon arriving at the office, Priyanka informed the returning officer (RO) that her mother, the Congress president, and her brother were detained in a meeting but would be arriving shortly. She mentioned that her husband and son would leave once they reached the office.
The returning officer mentioned that they were welcome to enter during the submission of the following round of nomination papers. Priyanka handed in her initial set at 1:25 pm.
Shortly after, Sonia Gandhi made her way to the collector’s office. It wasn’t long before Kharge and Congress MP KC Venugopal showed up at the location as well. Unfortunately, they were denied entry by the guard stationed at the collector’s office, citing the ongoing scrutiny of documents by the returning officer.
Once the procedure concluded, Robert Vadra and his son exited, allowing Kharge to step into the collector’s office as the second set of nomination papers was being submitted.
Rahul Gandhi, too, had to wait outside until the first batch of nomination papers was thoroughly reviewed before being summoned indoors.
The incident that gained widespread attention was Kharge waiting outside the collector’s office, which the BJP seized upon to criticize the Congress.
The BJP criticized the exclusion of Mallikarjun Kharge ji from the room during Priyanka Vadra’s nomination today, drawing parallels to the potential impact of removing reservations on the Dalit community. They raised concerns about the respect and opportunities that may be denied to the Dalit community if Rahul Gandhi proceeds with this decision. The party highlighted the treatment of Kharge ji as indicative of the Gandhi family’s attitude towards the Dalit community, suggesting a deep-seated animosity.
