Fact Check: This is not Tamil Nadu welcoming Rahul Gandhi ahead of assembly polls

Two images showing a large crowd of people gathered around a van are being shared with the claim that they show Tamil Nadu welcoming Rahul Gandhi. India Today Anti Fake News War Room (AFWA) has found that the claim along with the images is misleading.

The Tamil Nadu Assembly election is scheduled to be held in a single phase on April 6. The Congress, in alliance with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), is contesting 25 seats. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's visits to the poll-bound state and his attempts to connect with people from all walks of life by invoking Tamil pride and culture have been making headlines of late. In this context, two images showing a large crowd of people gathered around a van are being shared across social media with the claim that they show Tamil Nadu welcoming Rahul Gandhi. India Today Anti Fake News War Room (AFWA) has found that the claim along with the images is misleading. The images in question are from DMK president MK Stalin's election rally in Tamil Nadu on March 19, 2021. Rahul Gandhi was campaigning in Assam that day.