The Bharatiya Janata Party has accused the Congress of “disrespecting” president Mallikarjun Kharge after a purported video went viral showing the Dalit leader waiting outside the room where Priyanka Gandhi was filing nomination papers for Wayanad bypolls.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, former Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar, and BJP leader Amit Malviya were among those from the BJP who criticized the Congress for allegedly insulting party president Mallikarjun Kharge.
“It’s deeply disheartening to witness the disrespect shown towards a veteran Parliamentarian and Dalit leader like Shri Khargeji by the so-called Holy Trinity in Wayanad today. Whether it’s the president of AICC or PCC, does the family take pride in humiliating those they treat as mere rubber stamps?” said Himanta Biswa Sarma wrote on X.
Senior BJP Karnataka leader Rajeev Chandrasekhar questioned the whereabouts of Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge during the filing of nominations by Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.
“Where were you @kharge Saheb ? when first family Priyanka Vadra ji was filing her nomination as Cong candidate for #Wayanad. Kept outside – bcoz hes not family. Self-respect & dignity sacrificed at the altar of arrogance & entitlement of the Sonia family. Just imagine if they treat senior Dalit leader & Party President like this, how they will treat people of Wayanad,” Rajeev Chandrasekhar posted.
The official X handle of BJP India had also posted the same 30-second video on Wednesday night.
“The way Mallikarjun Kharge ji was kept out of the room during Priyanka Vadra’s nomination today… Similarly, after removing reservation, Rahul Gandhi will deprive the people of Dalit community of respect and opportunities. If the Gandhi family can insult Kharge ji like this, then one can imagine how much hatred they must have for the Dalit community”, the BJP India posted
BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya also mocked the Congress by sharing the video clip, taking a jibe at the party.
“Mallikarjun Kharge, veteran leader and Congress President, was kept out of Priyanaka Vadra’s nomination. Did the Gandhis keep him out because he is a Dalit?” Amit Malviya asked.
Congress Returned Fire
The Congress, however, was immediately hit back at the BJP leaders and posted pictures that showed Kharge seated along senior Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi.
“You cheap liar. I wish you knew a thing or two about elections and how many people at any given time are allowed inside besides the candidate. Kharge ji, Sonia ji and Rahul Ji waited for some people to exit before they came in. Now see these pics and shut up,” Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate replied to Amit Malviya’s post.
What Actually Happened?
As per the reports of the India Today, Priyanka Gandhi was scheduled to arrive at the district collector’s office in Kalpetta to file her nomination at 1 pm post a rally.
However, as she was running late, Priyanka left the rally in the middle meanwhile, Kharge was speaking. She arrived at the collector’s office at 1.24 pm with her husband, Robert Vadra, and her son.
On reaching the office, Priyanka informed the returning officer (RO) that the Congress president, her mother, and brother were held back in a meeting and would arrive soon. She said her husband and son would go out when they arrived.
Minutes later, Sonia Gandhi arrived at the collector’s office, followed by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and MP KC Venugopal. However, they were not permitted to enter by the guard, as the returning officer was in the process of scrutinizing the nomination papers.
Once the procedure was completed, Robert Vadra and his son exited, and Mallikarjun Kharge entered the collector’s office during the submission of the second set of nomination papers. Notably, Rahul Gandhi was also made to wait outside until the scrutiny of the first set of papers was finished, after which he was called inside. However, the video clip showing only Kharge waiting outside the office went viral and was used by the BJP to criticize the Congress.
