Wayanad: Hours after the Election Commission announced that the Wayanad Lok Sabha by-election would be held on November 13, with the Congress already declaring its General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi as their candidate, party workers hit the campaign trail.
At a few places in the hilly district of Wayanad, happy Congress workers started putting up billboards and painting the name of Priyanka Gandhi on walls in the constituency, which is spread across seven Assembly constituencies in three districts: Wayanad, Malappuram, and Kozhikode.
Incidentally, in 2019, the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat came under international attention when the party named Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to contest it. He won with a staggering margin of 4.6 lakh when votes were counted.
But at his next outing, the 2024 Lok Sabha polls on April 26, Rahul Gandhi’s winning margin came down to 3.64 lakh. One reason was the presence of State BJP President K. Surendran, who doubled the votes secured by their NDA ally candidate, Thushar Vellapally, at the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
However, when Rahul Gandhi decided to vacate Wayanad in favour of Raebareli, there was a sombre feeling in Wayanad, especially among the hardcore Congress workers, that the move might backfire.
But just before Rahul vacated the seat on his visit to the constituency, he assured that he would not leave Wayanad just like that. The surprise announcement came that Priyanka Gandhi would replace him, which was greeted with a lot of joy.
The acceptance of Priyanka Gandhi’s candidature by the people of Wayanad was evident when the brother-sister duo visited the district after the devastating July tragedy. Despite their grief, the people turned out in large numbers, a sign of hope and optimism for the future.
Meanwhile, the upcoming elections in Wayanad promise to be intense, with the State BJP President Surendran expressing confidence in their ‘winning streak ‘. His statement underscores the fierce competition that Priyanka Gandhi’s campaign will face.
The seat is for the ruling Left Democratic Front’s second biggest ally, the CPI. Last time, Annie Raja, the wife of the party’s General Secretary, D. Raja, was their candidate. This time, they are finalising their candidate, who is expected to be announced soon. So would the BJP.
Now all eyes will be on the arrival of Priyanka Gandhi as the Gandhi family has been the most popular political family which has won the hearts of many.
For more updates Subscribe to Media Eye News
–IANS
(File Photo: IANS)
