The National Democratic Alliance (NDA), in its bid to capture the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency in the upcoming 2024 elections, has fielded Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Kerala State president K. Surendran against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who currently holds the seat. In an exclusive interview with The Hindu, Surendran shared his insights on the upcoming elections and his optimism about the NDA’s prospects in Kerala. He expressed confidence in the NDA’s ability to overcome the United Democratic Front (UDF) despite Rahul Gandhi’s previous victory in Wayanad with a substantial margin. Surendran attributed this confidence to the anti-incumbency sentiments against the Kerala government and the incumbent MP, along with a favorable political atmosphere for the NDA, especially in Kerala.
Surendran addressed the challenge of facing two candidates from the same alliance, Rahul Gandhi and CPI’s Annie Raja of the INDIA bloc, both considered national leaders. He viewed the disagreement between the two leaders as an advantage for the NDA, portraying them as confused and lacking clear policies. In contrast, he highlighted the NDA’s strong leadership under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and their focus on discussing the achievements of the NDA government during the election campaign.
Regarding Rahul Gandhi’s performance as an MP representing Wayanad since 2019, Surendran criticized Gandhi for his prolonged absence from the constituency and his lack of interaction with the common man, claiming that wild elephants had visited residents more frequently than Gandhi had met with voters. He also pointed out Gandhi’s inaccessibility to district leaders of the Congress party, questioning his ability to address the concerns of his constituents. Surendran attributed the recent defections of Congress workers to the BJP as a sign of dissatisfaction with the incumbent MP’s performance.
In response to recent controversies surrounding Rahul Gandhi, such as the exclusive use of his placards instead of party flags during a roadshow and his invitation to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to arrest Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Surendran saw them as evidence of Gandhi’s inability to protect the interests of his allies and his own party. He contrasted this with the NDA’s focus on development under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, while the Opposition parties, including the INDIA bloc, lacked a coherent agenda.
Surendran concluded by expressing his conviction that the anti-incumbency sentiment and the NDA’s positive campaign would translate into electoral success in the upcoming elections.
