Asaduddin Owaisi Challenges Rahul Gandhi To Contest From Hyderabad in 2024 Lok Sabha Polls – News18

AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi challenged Congress MP Rahul Gandhi to contest the 2024 Lok Sabha Polls from Hyderabad.

Speaking at a gathering in Hyderabad, Owaisi, a four-time Lok Sabha MP from Hyderabad, said Babri Masjid in Ayodhya was demolished during the Congress regime at the Centre.

“I tell your leader to contest from Hyderabad this time, not Wayanad. I challenge you to come to Hyderabad, why Wayanad?” AIMIM chief said.

The lawmaker also slammed BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri over his comments on BSP leader Danish Ali in Lok Sabha and said, “Remember my words. A day will come when a mob lynching of a Muslim will happen in Parliament. That day is not far.”

Challenge Modi, Not Rahul Gandhi: Raut to Owaisi

Reacting to Owaisi’s challenge, Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut said the AIMIM leader should challenge Prime Minister Narendra Modi and not Rahul Gandhi.

“If Owaisi is a true nationalist citizen of the country, then he should not challenge Rahul Gandhi… He should challenge Prime Minister Narendra Modi…Rahul Gandhi’s popularity has increased so much that he can win elections from any part of the country…He (Owaisi) should give such challenges to BJP leaders,” Raut said.

Rahul Gandhi represented Uttar Pradesh’s Amethi constituency in Lok Sabha from 2004 till 2019. The Congress leader contested two seats in the last general elections– Amethi and Kerala’s Wayanad. Rahul Gandhi suffered a humiliating defeat in Amethi when BJP’s Smriti Irani snatched the seat which was with the Gandhi family for generations. However, he was elected to the Lok Sabha from Wayanad.

A meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) took place recently in Hyderabad.

Earlier this month, Rahul Gandhi announced six poll guarantees for Telangana including financial assistance and free travel for women in state buses. The party also promised gas cylinders at Rs 500.

(With ANI, PTI Inputs)