Nilambur (Kerala) [India], June 14 : Kerala Congress President Sunny Joseph claimed that the party's MP, Shafi Parambil, was deliberately insulted by the police without any evidence when he came to campaign for the Nilambur by-election.
"There was a deliberate attempt to insult Congress MP Shafi Parambil. The police knew it was Shafi Parambil travelling in the car -- they directed him to stop and flashed a torchlight on his face. Even after recognising him, they asked him to open the car. He complied and even offered to open the bags for any search. This was done purposefully and intentionally," Joseph said son Saturday.
Sunny Joseph said that such a search based on rumours has been conducted in the past also.
Shafi Parambil is the Lok Sabha MP from Vadakara constituency. He was travelling with MLA, Rahul Mankoottathil.
United Democratic Front (UDF) leaders alleged that only their vehicles were searched. Rahul Mankootathil and Shafi Parambil reacted strongly to the police, accusing them of specifically targeting and inspecting only them. However, the Election Commission stated that it was a routine check.
In the Palakkad by-election, the allegation that Rahul Mankootathil brought money in a blue suitcase and the subsequent inspection had become a major controversy. Police reached the rooms where UDF leaders were staying and conducting checks, which the UDF leaders questioned, made the 'suitcase' a big topic of discussion in the Palakkad election.
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who is hopeful of a "good victory' in the Nilambur by-election, said on Saturday everyone in the party and the UDF is fighting together.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra arrived at the Calicut airport on Friday. Upon her arrival, she was welcomed by Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Sunny Joseph and other senior leaders of the party's state unit.
Her visit is very crucial ahead of the Nilambur assembly constituency bypoll. The voting for the by-election will be held on June 19, and the results will be declared on June 23.
The elections were necessitated after the resignation of PV Anvar, an LDF-backed MLA, who stepped down in January after making several allegations against the Left government in the state.
"We are fighting very well for the (Nilambur) by-poll, and we are hopeful for a good victory... Everyone in our party and the UDF is fighting together. I am pleased to see everyone putting in hard work. I think we will do very well", Priyanka Gandhi Vadra told reporters on Saturday.