‘Did Rahul Gandhi not get any safe seat other than Wayanad?’: State BJP chief

By Suchitra Mukherjee
Dakshina Kannada (Karnataka) [India], April 21 (ANI): Targeting Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for not fighting Lok Sabha polls from the Amethi constituency, Karnataka BJP President BY Vijayendra questioned the intentions of Wayanad MP, saying that he could have opted for any other seat rather than contesting from a minority-dominated constituency.
"What made Rahul Gandhi contest from Wayanad? Why did he escape from Amethi? I do agree that he has lost the confidence of the people of Amethi. But he is contesting from Wayanad where more than 70 per cent of people are from the minority community. Did he not get any other safe seat other than from a minority-dominated Wayanad? What message is he trying to give the country?" Vijayendra told ANI.
On Rahul Gandhi's claim that BJP would not win more than 150 seats, Vijayendra said, "Instead of focusing on how many seats BJP is going to win, he should focus on his party."
Earlier, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday claimed that the BJP would not win more than 150 seats in the Lok Sabha elections.
"These BJP people have kept saying that they will secure this many or that many seats, let me make it clear, they (BJP) won't get more than 150 seats. Not even a single seat more than 150," he said while addressing a public rally in Bhagalpur.
Speaking on Rahul Gandhi's promises to abolish the Agnipath scheme if the INDIA bloc is voted to power and that "India does not need two kinds of martyrs", Karnataka BJP President BY Vijayendra said Congress is trying to bluff through its manifesto and people are well aware of this fact.
"Apart from giving these mischievous statements, Rahul Gandhi and his party should tell the people of this country, what promises do they have? They are trying to bluff through their manifesto and people are aware of this fact. These baseless allegations against the BJP and false promises of the Congress and the INDIA are not going to help their party," he said.
Congress and the INDIA bloc have made a poll promise to abolish the Agnipath scheme.
"India does not need two types of martyrs. As soon as the INDIA alliance government comes, we will end the Agniveer scheme. India does not need two types of martyrs. Everyone should get a pension," he said.
The Agnipath scheme was announced by the Centre in June 2022. This model seeks to recruit soldiers for only four years, with a provision to retain 25 per cent of them in regular service. Those recruited under the scheme are called 'Agniveers'. (ANI)