Attacking the Congress party, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked if there has been a ‘deal’ in Wayanad to extend the benefit of reservation to the Muslim community.

Asserting that giving religion-based reservations is “unconstitutional”, he accused Congress of snatching reservations from the SC, ST and OBC communities.

In an interview with TV9 Bharatvarsh, PM Modi said, “There is a question in my mind. Has there been a deal in Wayanad, that Muslims will be given a share in the reservation, and in return make us win the seat of Wayanad? The country wants to know this.”

“Today, what is happening, is they (Congress) are finding ways to snatch the reservation for SC, ST and OBC, given to them by the Constitution. They want to give religion-based reservation,” he added.

PM Modi further said that it was decided by the makers of the Constitution that reservation can’t be given on the basis of religion.

“When the Constitution was formed, months of discussion took place. It was discussed between many knowledgeable people whether reservations should be given on a religious basis. It was agreed upon that it can’t be given…now they are trying to give reservation on a religious basis, because of vote bank,” he said.

He also attacked the Congress party over not going to the Pran Pratishtha of Ayodhya Ram Mandir and accused the BJP of asserting their right to the temple.

“Can anyone have a right on the almighty? An ordinary party like the BJP is nothing in front of Lord Ram. Lord Ram should be of everyone. And why do they talk about this? To hide their hidden agenda, which is to maintain their vote bank,” PM Modi said.

“They (Congress) thought, if they went to Ram Mandir, they would lose their vote bank…if you remember Rajiv Gandhi had started his election campaign from Ram Mandir. But then their vote bank asked, ‘If you do this, what is the difference between you and the BJP’. So they ran away. Earlier they used to visit temples, but not now. Because their vote bank had scolded them last time.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Congress delays announcing Amethi and Rae Bareli candidates. Rahul may contest from Rae Bareli instead of Amethi. Priyanka is unlikely to run, as per the sources. Indecision due to Wayanad’s victory and concerns about Kerala optics. Party leaders like KC Venugopal, and Kharge are said to have discussed the subject in Shimoga in Karnataka after a public rally Thursday afternoon

Congress’s Rahul Gandhi may contest from Raebareli – the seat vacated by his mother Sonia Gandhi — and the party could field senior leader and longtime Gandhi family loyalist KL Sharma from Amethi, sources have told NDTV. The Gandhi siblings were told to take a call on the issue by Thursday night, but the party is yet to make a formal announcement.  Friday is the last date for filing of nomination.

At a meeting with Mr Gandhi on Thursday evening, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge had suggested that both siblings contest, but left the final decision to them in view of their “knowledge of the ground reality”.

KL Sharma is one of the close aides of the Gandhi family and represented Sonia Gandhi in the constituency when she was its MP. Mrs Gandhi has now moved onto the Rajya Sabha, leaving a vacuum in which Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was expected to step in.   

Ms Gandhi Vadra, though, remains firm on her decision not to contest despite much pressure. Party sources hinted that her reluctance stems from the fact that her victory from Raebareli would place all three Gandhi family members in parliament, reinforcing the BJP accusation of dynasty politics.

Sources said Mr Kharge had suggested to Mr Gandhi that he and his sister both contest from the two seats, their family bastions for decades. Not contesting would send a wrong message, and its ramification would be felt not just in Uttar Pradesh but the rest of the country.

The Congress has been delaying the decision on candidates for the two seats for weeks. As the tension escalate, Congress workers went into protest mode in Amethi earlier this week, seeking a member of the Gandhi family as candidate. Election for both seats is due on May 20, the fifth phase.