False claim: Congress leaders photographed with the same elderly woman in multiple pictures

A set of images circulating on social media attempts to show Congress leaders embracing the same elderly woman in all the three photographs “ये अम्मा कांग्रेस की रजिस्टर्ड दुखियारी है। (This amma is the registered mourner for Congress),” is the caption accompanying the photographs.

The collage is shared on Facebook and Twitter alike.

ये अम्मा कांग्रेस की रजिस्टर्ड दुखियारी है 😜😜😜।
हर जगह यही क्यों बुलाई जाती है🤔 pic.twitter.com/Piv6MDaHbs

— Vinod Sharma #HTL (@vinodsharma1834) April 19, 2019

It was also retweeted by Times of India journalist Rohan Dua.

The third photograph is with a BJP politician

While Congress MPs Rahul Gandhi and Shashi Tharoor are easily recognisable, the third leader is not even a member of the Congress party. He is the general secretary of BJP Kerala, K Surendran. The image was a part of BJP’s campaign in Pathanamthitta, as per numerous tweets.

No media will show these heartwarming visuals from @surendranbjp campaign in Pathanamthitta. No newspapers will print these emotional pictures as photonews… It is the duty of all Hindus & Ayyappa Devotees to ensure the victory of K Surendran & other BJP-NDA candidates.Share max pic.twitter.com/3reH5oJTuz

— Chowkidar EMS Nampoothiripad (@trollcommies) April 16, 2019

Contrastingly, the image of Rahul Gandhi was lifted from the Congress leader’s visit to flood-affected areas of Tamil Nadu and Kerala in 2015. As seen in the tweet, an elderly woman is visible in multiple photographs including the one where she’s hugging Gandhi.

Snapshots from Rahul Gandhi’s visit to flood affected areas of Tamil Nadu & Puducherry, yesterday (2/4) pic.twitter.com/kA4Qq320D9

— Congress (@INCIndia) December 9, 2015

Shashi Tharoor’s photograph was tweeted by the MP himself on April 13.

This wonderful old lady tried to touch my feet. I stopped her and hugged her instead. pic.twitter.com/tjH7XzXBHJ

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) April 12, 2019

Not the same woman

All three women might seem alike because of their old age and white hair. A closer look, however, reveals apparent distinctions in physical features. Alt News has juxtaposed photographs of the three women for a clearer view. The one on the left was photographed with BJP’s K Surendran and the one on the right, with Shashi Tharoor. The elderly woman in the middle is the same woman who could be seen embracing Rahul Gandhi. We have chosen a different photograph of hers from the images tweeted by Congress for ease of distinction.

The woman in the middle is visibly different from the other two.

The other two women also have distinct physical features. For instance, the one on the left has more black hair than the woman on the right.

Another clear difference is the teeth. While the front teeth of the elderly woman on the left seem blackened, the one on the right has visibly protruding front teeth. The shape of the nose is distinct as well.

Therefore, the three women aren’t the same person. Moreover, one of them did not have an encounter with a Congress leader by BJP Kerala’s K Surendran.