Thiruvananthapuram: The seizure of food kits featuring images of Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, who is also a candidate, in Thirunelli, Wayanad, has sparked major controversy.The opposition CPM-led LDF has accused the party of a “provisions for votes” scam. The kits, confiscated by the election flying squad in Tholpetty, Wayanad, were stored near the residence of the Congress mandalam president Sasikumar Tholpetty. The kits bore inscriptions indicating they were intended for Wayanad landslide victims. The Congress has stated that these kits were procured before the election announcement and that their distribution was halted by election authority orders due to the Wayanad Lok Sabha by-election.Congress MLA T. Siddique has defended Priyanka Gandhi, stating that she does not require the distribution of food kits to win elections. On the other hand, LDF candidate Sathyan Mokeri has criticized the Congress, likening the distribution of kits to a “cash for votes” scheme.”The kits were meant to be distributed among families affected by the disaster. Distribution was halted due to the election code of conduct,” explained T Siddique MLA.He said the food kit controversy is being raised to overcome the embarrassment the CPM faced due to Palakkad fiasco.Siddique mentioned that the revenue department, in partnership with the district administration, is supplying all the goods. He has also reported that the previously arrived goods were of substandard quality.Worm-infested food grains distributed among affected familiesIn a related incident, food kits infested with worms were given to families affected by landslides in the Meppadi panchayat, which is ruled by Congress-led UDF.The CPM’s youth wing, DYFI, along with the impacted families, stormed the panchayat office on Thursday to protest the distribution of the contaminated food grains. The protestors slammed the panchayat office bearers for their inhuman approach towards the victims of devastating landslides.The Congress, however, hit back at the CPM saying that the work-infested food kits were distributed by the government agencies.”The revenue and food supplies ministers should resign. The food kits and other items were not examined properly before being sent for distribution among the affected families,” said T Siddique MLA.He claimed that the worm-infested provision kits were not distributed by the panchayat.
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