Polling underway in Wayanad for Lok Sabha by-election as Priyanka Gandhi aims to retain Congress seat

Polling began at 7 AM today in Wayanad for the Lok Sabha by-election. The bypoll follows the vacancy created by Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification after his victory in the 2019 elections, as he lost his seat in Amethi. Wayanad, which has been a Congress stronghold since 2019, is now being contested by Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, marking her first-ever election as a candidate. Voting is being held across more than 1,000 polling booths in the constituency, with the results scheduled for November 23.

Priyanka Gandhi's campaign has been centered on continuing the developmental work that was initiated by her family, including her brother Rahul Gandhi. The Congress party has highlighted its focus on key issues such as infrastructure development, education, and healthcare, with promises to address the region’s needs. Priyanka has also emphasized her commitment to serve the people of Wayanad, and her campaign has involved extensive outreach through rallies and public meetings.

The Left Democratic Front (LDF) has fielded Sathyan Mokeri, who previously contested the 2014 Lok Sabha elections in Wayanad. Mokeri has centered his campaign on local issues, including agriculture, unemployment, and infrastructure, asserting the need for effective representation from within the region. He has emphasized the importance of having a representative who is consistently present and accessible to the people, in contrast to what he claims was a lack of regular engagement by Rahul Gandhi after his 2019 win.

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has fielded Navya Haridas, who is contesting the seat with a focus on governance, development, and transparency. Haridas has focused on issues such as improving local infrastructure, addressing unemployment, and ensuring that the region receives its fair share of central government funding. She has also emphasized the importance of accountability and pledged to work on making sure that the constituency’s concerns are represented in the national parliament.

In total, over 1,000 polling booths have been set up across Wayanad to facilitate the voting process. The bypoll is being watched closely by political analysts and party officials, as it holds significant implications for the Congress party’s future strategy in Kerala. The results, which will be announced on November 23, could influence the political landscape of the state, especially with upcoming state elections.