WAYANAD: After holding a mega road show with Kerala BJP chief and candidate from Wayanad, K Surendran ahead of his nomination on Thursday, Union Minister Smriti Irani came down heavily on Rahul Gandhi and alleged that he was taking support from the leaders of banned outfit Popular Front of India.

K Surendran filed his nomination on Thursday from Wayanad Lok Sabha seat.

"I am shocked after coming here to Wayanad that even after the ban of a terror outfit like PFI, Rahul Gandhi is taking support from PFI's political leadership. Every candidate before filing his nomination needs to swear by an Oath of Allegiance to the Indian Constitution. Rahul Gandhi falsified his oath to the Indian Constitution when he took support from the political leadership of the PFI for his elections," said Irani.

Irani further labelling some serious allegations said that Muslim League flags were hidden in the Congress party nomination rally indicating Rahul getting support from Muslim League.

Union Minister Smriti Irani said, "Muslim League flags were hidden in the Congress party nomination rally yesterday indicating that either Rahul Gandhi is ashamed of getting support from the Muslim League or when he visits North India and visits temples, he will not be able to hide his association with the Muslim League."

"There is hugging in Delhi and begging in Kerala which needs to be explained. Why do the alliance leaders meet in Delhi and there seems to be no animosity, but when it comes to the seat of Wayanad, there is competition, she added.

Smriti Irani's campaign in Wayanad, which is also the Lok Sabha constituency of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, is being seen as Irani's challenge to Rahul Gandhi as she has defeated Rahul from Amethi, which used to be a stronghold of Congress ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.