Congressional leader and former party chief Rahul Gandhi on Monday distributed the keys to a newly built house to two sisters who lost all their relatives in the Kavalapara landslide last year.
K Kavya and Karthika were saved from the fury of nature last year while staying at a shelter and continuing their studies. Gandhi had met the girls last year and promised them a new home. The girls had lost all their property and relatives in the landslide last year, the promise Gandhi made to them was finally fulfilled a year later.
At least 59 people were killed when part of a mountain drifted in Kavalapara after heavy rains last year. Similarly, in Puthuamala in Wayanad, 17 people were killed in another landslide during the same period.
On Monday, Gandhi began his three-day visit to his constituency in Wayanad, in northern Kerala. After arriving at Kozhikode International Airport on a special flight, he participated in a weekly Covid-19 review meeting at the Malappuram Collector.
Gandhi is visiting his constituency after nine months; his last visit was in January. Shortly after the natural disaster that paralyzed the mountain district, he visited the accident sites.
“You will interact with selected leaders. All restrictions will apply. The main focus of his visit is to review the pandemic situation in the constituency, ”said Wayanad District Congress President IC Balakrishnan.
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The District Congressional Committee (DCC) said no public functions were scheduled during the day due to restrictions. On Tuesday, Gandhi will attend a Covid-19 review meeting at Wayanad Collectorate and meet with party leaders. He will also visit the Mananthawady government hospital on Wednesday before departing from Kannur airport, the DCC said.
Last week, there was a controversy after Wayanad District Collector Dr. Adeela Abdulla denied him permission to open a new block of a state school built with his MP fund. The online feature was canceled by the district administration at the last minute, stating that the state government was not informed and protocols were not followed. Congress had criticized the decision, saying it was politically motivated.
His presence in the last Lok Saha elections had helped the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) sweep the state by winning 19 out of 20 seats. It also helped curb factionalism in the state party unity. Kerala’s assembly elections are due to take place in six months and, following the state’s tradition of showing the incumbent doors, the UDF is likely to return to power.
Although the Communist Party of India (Marxist) CPI (M) and Congress are on good terms in national politics, in Kerala they are sworn enemies. During the last Lok Sabha election, Gandhi did not attack the CPI (M) in the state and used his firepower to attack the BJP, a distant third runner in the state.
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