Food kits with Congress leaders’ photos seized ahead of Wayanad bypoll

An election flying squad seized 30 food kits, marked for distribution in Wayanad, having images of prominent Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi.
The kits, reportedly stored at a rice mill near Congress leader A Sasikumar’s residence in Tholpetty, were earmarked for distribution among landslide-affected residents in areas like Meppadi, Mundakai, and Chooralmala.

According to Kalpetta MLA and Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) working president T. Siddique, the kits were put together months for disaster relief months ago, but were held back as the election code of conduct is enforced. He said that similar kits, bearing Karnataka Congress and Wayanad Congress branding, including staples like rice, tea, and sugar were stored elsewhere as well, awaiting distribution post-election.
“I challenge the Left to show us even one kit we distributed after the election was announced,” Siddique stated. “We had been distributing these kits to landslide-affected areas across various panchayats for a long time, but the moment the election was announced, we halted all distribution. The kits were kept ready for further relief distribution, but respecting the election code of conduct, we stopped and stored them in a mill,” he said.
The CPI(M) has accused Congress of intending to use these kits to sway voters in favour of Priyanka Gandhi, who is contesting in the Wayanad Lok Sabha by-poll.
The seizure has heightened tensions in Wayanad, particularly after allegations of worm-infested relief supplies in Meppadi. Protesters from both CPI(M) and Congress staged demonstrations, prompting police intervention. Election officials confirmed the kits were handed over to local authorities, pending further action by the Election Commission.