BJP criticises absence of Kharge : says he was excluded because “he is not family “

In the room where Priyanka Gandhi submitted her nomination papers for the Wayanad by-election on Wednesday, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress argued over Mallikarjun Kharge’s “absence.” The Congress clarified that Kharge merely obeyed the District Magistrate’s orders, which stated that only five people could remain inside the chamber, and that by doing so, the Congress President “helped the DM,” despite the BJP’s accusations that Kharge was forced to stand outside the room because “he is not family.”

Rajeev Chandrasekhar, a former government minister and BJP politician, posted a video on X showing Kharge, the president of the Congress, standing outside a room with its door open. He captioned the post, saying that the images depicted Priyanka Gandhi filing her candidacy papers and being denied entry to the chamber because “he is not family.”

“Where were you @kharge Saheb? When first family Priyanka Vadra ji was filing her nomination as Cong candidate for Wayanad. Kept outside – bcoz hes not family. Self-respect & dignity sacrificed at the altar of arrogance & entitlement of the Sonia family. Just imagine if they treat senior Dalit leader & Party President like this, how they will treat people of Wayanad,” Chandrasekhar posted on X.

The former minister’s claims that Kharge stayed outside the door only to follow the DM’s directions were promptly refuted by AICC Secretary Pranav Jha. “We honour the direction and discipline enforced by The District Magistrate. Her rule demanded that not more than 5 people including the candidate be present in the room. By choosing to stand at the door Congress President helped the DM,” Jha tweeted.

Kharge was seen sitting next to Priyanka in the DM’s chamber in the photos taken at the time the nomination papers were filed. The whole time she filed the nomination paperwork, he was spotted sitting at his house.