Will Modi have courage to fight from Kerala or Tamil Nadu: Shashi Tharoor

NEW DELHI:

Rahul Gandhi’s decision to contest from Wayanad

shows he has the confidence to win from both north and south India, senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said on Sunday and asked whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi would have the courage to fight from a seat in Kerala or Tamil Nadu.


With Gandhi contesting the Lok Sabha polls from Wayanad, there is “palpable excitement” across the southern states that the next PM could be elected from the region, Tharoor said.

Tharoor also slammed Modi and BJP for suggesting that Rahul chose Wayanad to “run away” from majority dominated areas, saying the ruling party has repeatedly resorted to peddling bigotry.

Under the BJP-led Centre, he alleged, relations between the southern states and the federal government have “steadily deteriorated” over a number of issues such as threats to the economic security of the south as well as the future of its political representation.

In that context, Gandhi has made a “bold statement” of intent to suggest he can be the bridge that repairs the growing north-south divide within the country, Tharoor said, adding that it also signals that the Congress chief has the confidence to win elections in both the north and the south.