The Congress party faces a tough contest in its home turf of Amethi. Is that the reason why Rahul Gandhi went south looking for a seat to contest? Or is it an attempt by the Congress party to improve its position in south India? The statements vary depending on which side you are. Amit Shah had said that, “Rahul Gandhi has left Amethi and run away to Kerala because he knows that voters will seek account from him in Amethi this time.” Congress has maintained that it was the party workers of their state units who wanted Rahul to contest from a seat in south India. “Why doesn’t BJP answer why Modi ji left Gujarat and went to Varanasi. Does that mean that his condition was bad in Gujarat,” Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala had countered. Smriti Irani who is contesting Rahul in Amethi accused him of “betraying Amethi”.

Wayanad is considered a safe seat for the Congress which has won it both times since the constituency came into existence in 2009 – with a nearly 50 per cent vote share in 2009 and 41 per cent in 2014. The death of sitting MP and senior Congress leader M.I. Shanavas in November 2018 had also meant that no one had to let go off the contest for Rahul. Interestingly, this time Rahul Gandhi is facing three Gandhis in the constituency. K.E. Rahul Gandhi, K. Raghul Gandhi, K.M. Shivaprasad Gandhi are three candidates contesting the Congress president on the same seat.