Wayanad landslide: BJP slams Rahul, Priyanka for absence

The BJP on Sunday criticised Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra for their absence from Wayanad, where a landslide left eight people dead, alleging that they are “part-time politicians” who have used the constituency for their political survival.

The landslide occurred on July 7 at the site of the Anakkampoyil-Meppadi twin-tube tunnel project, which is intended to connect Wayanad and Kozhikode districts.

BJP national spokesperson Tuhin Sinha accused Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, the current MP from Wayanad, and Rahul Gandhi, who represented the Lok Sabha seat earlier, of failing to reach out to the affected families.

“They are merely political tourists. Apart from a single condolence post on social media, neither of them has shown any interest in reaching out to the affected families. This is shameful and reflects that both of them are part-time politicians,” he said.

“Neither Priyanka Gandhi Vadra nor Rahul Gandhi found the time to visit the constituency. This is the second major landslide after the one in July 2024, which claimed several hundred lives. Even then, Rahul Gandhi arrived late, and now neither of them has deemed it necessary to visit the affected area,” he added.

Sinha alleged that the Congress leaders have treated Wayanad as a “constituency of political convenience.”

“As Members of Parliament, first Rahul Gandhi and now Priyanka Gandhi have merely used the constituency for their political survival.

“The moment Rahul Gandhi won from Rae Bareli, he dumped Wayanad. Priyanka Gandhi, too, is likely to dump the constituency the day she finds a better seat closer to Delhi,” he claimed.

Sinha also questioned the steps taken by Rahul Gandhi during his tenure as Wayanad MP from 2019 to 2024, and by the current MP to address the environmental vulnerability of the eco-sensitive region.

“This is how the Gandhis have treated their constituencies throughout.  Amethi remained underdeveloped for decades, which is why Rahul Gandhi eventually had to leave it.

“Wayanad is an eco-sensitive region. What steps have the Gandhis taken since 2019 to address their environmental vulnerability?” he asked.