Congress Accuses Kerala CM Vijayan of Fear in Wayanad By-poll

Bengaluru -Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and State Congress President D.K. Shivakumar stated on Friday that Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan fears significant losses in the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency by-elections. Shivakumar launched a scathing attack on Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday, accusing him of being "afraid of losing in the Wayanad by-election in a big way." Shivakumar's comments were in response to Vijayan's criticism of Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi for seeking support from the Jamaat-e-Islami in the Wayanad Lok Sabha by-election.

Vijayan, in a Facebook post on Thursday, questioned the Congress party's stance on secularism, stating that Priyanka Gandhi's candidacy, supported by the Jamaat-e-Islami, "exposed the Congress' secular mask completely." He further criticized the Jamaat-e-Islami, calling it an organization that "does not value the nation or its democracy and disregards the nation's governance structure." He claimed the organization was operating under the guise of political involvement, and this facade was evident in Jammu and Kashmir.

Shivakumar, however, defended Gandhi's candidacy, stating that she is a national leader and voters have the right to choose their candidate. He further claimed that the people of Wayanad appreciate Gandhi's contest and that opposition leaders are "jealous" of her.

The Wayanad Lok Sabha seat holds significance as it was previously represented by Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan expressed concern that the Congress party's alliance with the Jamaat-e-Islami in the Wayanad Lok Sabha by-election could result in a significant loss for the party.