Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said on Wednesday that his former constituency Wayanad will have two members in Parliament after his sister Priyanka Gandhi filed her nomination for the Lok Sabha bypolls from the seat.

Addressing a public meeting at Kalpetta, the former Congress chief requested people of the hill region to take care of his sister just as they had protected and looked after him when he needed it most.

The former Wayanad MP said the Rakhi he was wearing was made by his sister and it was a symbol of a brother’s protection to her.

“Made by my sister, the Rakhi I wear is a testament to a brother’s protection for his sister. I wear it until it breaks. As I represented Wayanad in the Lok Sabha from 2019 to 2024, I urge the people of Wayanad to care for and safeguard my sister. Her focus will be on addressing the issues of Wayanad and protecting its people with all her vigor,” said Rahul, the former Member of Parliament for Wayanad.

The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said that Priyanka would serve as the official MP from Wayanad while he would operate as the unofficial MP.

“One holds the official position in Parliament while the other is the unofficial representative, and both will collaborate to safeguard the people of Wayanad,” he stated during a public meeting in Kalpetta, following his sister’s extensive roadshow before filing her candidacy for the byelection.

Describing himself as the “unofficial MP” for Wayanad, Rahul promised to be involved in addressing the challenges faced by the people.

In the presence of prominent leaders such as his mother, Sonia Gandhi, and AICC chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul further emphasised his sister’s dedication to their family and the people of Wayanad.

After the public address, Priyanka proceeded to the collectorate to file her nomination papers, accompanied by Sonia Gandhi, Rahul, Kharge, and AICC general secretary K C Venugopal.

Expressing emotions after filing her nomination for the Wayanad byelection, Priyanka said: “The love you’ve shown to Rahul Ji, and now to me, is something I carry with me every step of the way.”

“Wayanad’s strength lies in its people’s kindness, resilience, and belief in a better future. I will listen to your voices, raise the issues that matter to you, and work tirelessly for the progress of Wayanad. To every supporter, every UDF worker, and every family that stood by us – thank you from the depths of my heart,” she said in a post on X.

During the by-election, Priyanka will contest against LDF’s Sathyan Mokeri and BJP’s Navya Haridas, with voting scheduled for November 13th.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Wednesday that there is no place for those having double standards on serious issues like terrorism and terror financing, during the BRICS Summit in Russia’s Kazan.

Addressing the Closed Plenary Session of the 16th BRICS Summit, PM Modi said: “We all have to be united and cooperate strongly to deal with terrorism and terror financing. There is no place for double standards on such a serious issue.”

“We should take active steps to prevent radicalization among the youth of our countries. We have to work together on the pending issue of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism in the UN,” he added.

PM Modi emphasised a people-centric approach to address cyber security, deep fake, and disinformation issues. He stated, “In today’s complex global landscape marked by conflicts and technological challenges, including cyber security threats, deepfake technology, and disinformation, there are high hopes from Brics. As a diverse and inclusive platform, I believe that BRICS can positively influence these issues. Our focus must remain on prioritizing the welfare of people, sending a clear message that Brics is a collective for public good, not division.”

Furthermore, PM Modi expressed India’s willingness to include new countries as BRICS partner Countries. He highlighted the importance of unanimous decisions and respectful consideration of the founding members’ opinions.

He also stressed the need to adhere to the principles, standards, and procedures outlined during the Johannesburg Summit. PM Modi underscored the importance of pushing for reforms in global institutions such as the UN Security Council, Multilateral Development Banks, and WTO.

He mentioned, “While advancing BRICS’ agenda, we must ensure that the organization’s reputation reflects a commitment to reforming rather than replacing global institutions.”

During the Summit, PM Modi, alongside world leaders like Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese Premier Xi Jinping, participated in a photo-op.

The BRICS alliance, initially comprised of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, has expanded to include Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia. Additionally, countries like Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Malaysia have formally sought membership, while others have shown interest in joining the alliance.

The Bengaluru Police on Wednesday made the first arrest related to the multi-storied under-construction building collapse in northern Bengaluru, which claimed the lives of five people and injured dozens. The police said that they have arrested Bhuvan Reddy, son of Munireddy, under whose name the building was constructed.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) D Devaraj said that the Contractor, Muniyappa, who has built four floors has been taken into custody. The deceased has been identified as Arman (26), Tripal (35), Mohamed Sahil (19), Sathya Raju (25) and Shankar. Nearly 18 people have been rescued so far. The police added that Jagadevi (45), Rasheed (28), Nagaraju (25), Ramesh Kumar (28), Arman (22), and Ayaz were being treated at the hospital. 

The incident occurred in the city’s Hennur part, in an area named Babusapalya on Tuesday evening, amid heavy rainfall. Nonetheless, reports said that the cause of the collapse wasn’t rain, but the sub-standard material and poor construction. It added that the seven-storey building only had permission for four floors.

Additionally, the pillar rods for building should have been 28-30 mm thick, but those used had only 18-20 mm thickness. Also, for moulding, where 14-16 mm thick rods should have been used, there was a possibility that the rods used were only 8-10 mm thick. Reports said, there was also a possibility that less than required amount of cement and more sand was used in the construction.

Reacting to the incident,  Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said that a total of 21 labourers were present inside the building at the time of the incident. He added that a 26-year-old Arman’s body was recovered. He mentioned that 26 people were at the construction site in a day. The Deputy Chief Minister also told a news agency that illegal activities were going on at the site and that he would take strict action against the owner and others involved.

Meanwhile, Bengaluru has been witnessing continuous rain, with several parts of the city, especially north Bengaluru, facing waterlogging, potholes and traffic. As per the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike, Yelahanka received 157 mm of rain in just six hours from midnight to 6 am on Tuesday.