Other parties can't dictate from where Rahul Gandhi should contest polls, Congress leader Ashwani Kumar

Dismissing the war of words over Congress president Rahul Gandhi contesting from two Lok Sabha seats, former Law Minister Ashwani Kumar on Sunday said other party leaders cannot dictate from which parliamentary constituency Rahul should contest polls or not.

"It is entirely up to each party to decide from where its leaders will contest. It is not the first time a leader is contesting election from two parliamentary constituencies. The present Prime Minister himself had contested from two constituencies," Ashwani told ANI.

Earlier in the day, Congress announced that Rahul will be contesting from Wayanad parliamentary constituency in Kerala along with his traditional bastion Amethi in Uttar Pradesh to further strengthen the unity of north and south.

Taking on the opposition leaders questioning Rahul's decision to contest the Lok Sabha polls from two seats, Ashwani said: "It is not right for a leader of one party to dictate to the leader of another party from which parliamentary constituency he or she should contest."

"Mr Gandhi's decision to contest from a constituency in the south and from his traditional constituency Amethi will create a huge resonance for the party throughout the country. That seems to be the real vision. I am absolutely confident that Rahul Gandhi will win both the seats," he told ANI.

Senior Congress leader PC Chacko explained the idea behind Rahul contesting two parliamentary constituencies for the first time.

"Amethi is not a difficult seat but as the future Prime Minister of the country he wants to establish his presence in south India as well," said Chacko.