In the second phase of the ongoing Lok Sabha Elections, the green landscape of Kerala will witness an electrifying political battle with big names like Congress leader and Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi in the fray.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is seeking re-election from a seat he won with an impressive margin in 2019. However, the upcoming election promises to be more competitive, with notable figures from the BJP and the Left also vying for the same seat. This has turned Wayanad into a hotbed of electoral activity.
Rahul Gandhi shocked everyone when he decided to contest elections from Wayanad in Kerala after suffering a high-profile loss in Amethi, a traditional stronghold for his family.
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His victory in Wayanad was a significant political statement. He secured the seat with over 431,000 votes, accounting for 64.7% of the total, a record in Kerala’s electoral history.
His victory shifted the spotlight to the region, highlighting its importance in national politics.
However, this year's election in Wayanad is more competitive than ever. The Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) has fielded BJP state president K Surendra against Gandhi. Surendran is an experienced politician and has almost won a few times. Annie Raja, a well-respected leader in the Communist Party of India and the general secretary of the National Federation of Indian Women, is running for the Left.
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Her candidacy is a big challenge to Gandhi's re-election.
The contest also assumed significance amid uncertainty about whether Gandhi would contest from Amethi, his earlier seat in Uttar Pradesh.
Congress, which is contesting elections in UP in alliance with the SP, the INDIA bloc partner, has yet to announce candidates for Amethi and Rae Bareli seats.
The BJP and PM Modi are doing their best to make political inroads in Southern India.
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