Authors
Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joining Newschecker’s English team, she was working with Latestly.
Pankaj Menon is a fact-checker based out of Delhi who enjoys ‘digital sleuthing’ and calling out misinformation. He has completed his MA in International Relations from Madras University and has worked with organisations like NDTV, Times Now and Deccan Chronicle online in the past.
Claim
Massive crowd gathered to support Priyanka Gandhi in Wayanad ahead of the bypoll.
Fact
Old video from Priyanka Gandhi’s rally in Maharashtra’s Nandurbar during the Lok Sabha campaign.
Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi has begun campaigning for the Wayanad parliamentary by-election that is scheduled to be held on November 13. The seat was left vacant after Rahul Gandhi chose to represent Rae Bareli constituency in Lok Sabha.
In this backdrop, a video purportedly showing a huge crowd at Priyanka Gandhi’s public meeting in Wayanad ahead of bypoll for her potential Lok Sabha debut is going viral on social media platforms. Newschecker, however, found the video to be old and unrelated to her recent campaign.
Multiple X, Facebook and Instagram users shared the 27-second-long-video showing massive support to Priyanka Gandhi during her Wayanad campaign.
Such posts can be seen here, here, here and here.
The video has also been shared on YouTube to show Priyanka Gandhi’s campaign in Wayanad.
Such posts can be seen here and here.
Also Read: TMC MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar Scolded Amit Shah & Asked Him To Sit Down? Viral Video Is Edited
Fact Check/Verification
A Google lens search on the keyframes of the viral video led us to a Facebook post by @SamacharFirst, dated May 11, 2024. Carrying the same footage, it stated that Priyanka Gandhi’s public meeting in Maharashtra’s Nandurbar drew a massive crowd.
We also found snippets of the video showing Gandhi waving at the crowd in a YouTube video by India Youth Congress, dated May 11, 2024. It further corroborated that the visuals were from Nandurbar in Maharashtra.
Also Read: 2019 Video Of Congress Leader Threatening BJP Supporters Revived Ahead Of Maharashtra Polls
Furthermore, the same video was shared on the official Instagram page of Priyanka Gandhi on May 11, 2024 to show visuals from Nandurbar, Maharashtra.
Priyanka Gandhi addressed a rally in Nandurbar in May 2024 while campaigning for the General Elections. Multiple outlets such as this, this and this reported on her rally in Nandurbar. A report by Marathi outlet Saam TV also featured the similar visuals of Gandhi waving at the crowd as seen in the viral video.
Conclusion
We thus conclude that old visuals from a Maharashtra rally have been falsely shared to show massive support to Priyanka Gandhi in Wayanad during bypoll campaigning.
Result: False
Sources
Facebook Post By @SamacharFirst, Dated May 11, 2024
YouTube Video By @IndiaYouthCongress, Dated May 11, 2024
Instagram Post By @priyankagandhivadra, Dated May 11, 2024
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Authors
Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joining Newschecker’s English team, she was working with Latestly.
Pankaj Menon is a fact-checker based out of Delhi who enjoys ‘digital sleuthing’ and calling out misinformation. He has completed his MA in International Relations from Madras University and has worked with organisations like NDTV, Times Now and Deccan Chronicle online in the past.
