Priyanka on crease, BJP begins sledging

An avoidable controversy regarding Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's presence during the filing of nomination papers by Priyanka Gandhi Vadra at Wayanad has erupted, with the BJP alleging that the family had insulted a Dalit leader by denying him entry.

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This is disputed by the Congress which has tried to put the record straight by explaining in great detail as to what happened on that day.

It is obvious that the BJP is uncomfortable with the idea of Priyanka making it to the Lok Sabha and is therefore leaving no stone unturned to somehow smear her image and paint her party as anti-Dalit.

Stories are being spread on why Priyanka was contesting from a safe seat where the minorities outnumbered the majority community and also how certain declarations in her affidavit were flawed. There is a conscious attempt to indulge in sledging as Indira Gandhi's granddaughter is all set to make her electoral debut from the seat represented earlier by her brother, Rahul.

There are some facts that need to be put straight. There is no truth in the claim that Kharge was humiliated since he and Rahul Gandhi had reached the returning officer's office late and by that time, Priyanka had already filed her first set of nomination. She had come from a meeting earlier and submitted her first set which was being scrutinized when Kharge and Rahul reached.

Her husband and son were by her side and as soon as Kharge arrived, they left the room to vacate the chairs.