Come 23 April, the voters of Kerala’s Wayanad district will get to choose between three Rahul Gandhis, all contesting from the same constituency. Congress President Rahul Gandhi finds himself pitted against Rahul Gandhi K E and a Rahul Gandhi K. The Indian Express reported that both the other Gandhis belong to families who are staunch Congress supporters.
33-year-old Rahul Gandhi K E, who is contesting as an independent candidate is a folk music research scholar. A resident of Erumeli village in Kottayam, his younger brother’s name is Rajiv Gandhi K E.
Rahul Gandhi K E’s father, Kunjumon, was reportedly a fan of the Gandhi family.
“The sons have no links to the Congress, but Rajiv is a CPM follower. Their mother Valsamma is a daily worker. I think he has not consulted anyone at home. Everyone in their locality was surprised to hear about the candidature.”Local Panchayat member Prakash Pulikkal to The Indian Express.
30-year-old Raghul Gandhi K meanwhile, hails from Coimbatore and is a candidate of Agila India Makkal Kazhagam. Having contested in Assembly polls and civic body elections, this is the third time he is contesting in elections. Raghul’s father, Krishnan P, was a Congress leader who later switched to AIADMK, he told The Indian Express.
“During his Congress days, I was born and was named as Raghul Gandhi K. My sister was then named Indira Priyadarshini. Today that name given by my father has helped me take on the Congress president.”Raghul Gandhi K, candidate contesting from Wayanad.
The Congress President, however, can breathe easy as the Election Commission will be adding photos of candidates on EVMs for the first time this Lok Sabha polls, to avoid confusion.
(With inputs from The Indian Express.)
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