The Wayanad Lok Sabha seat, which Rahul Gandhi won for the second time in a row, comprises three assembly constituencies: one in the tribal district of Wayanad, one in the Muslim-dominated Malappuram, and one in the Kozhikode district, where Christians hold a significant vote base.
Gandhi won by a margin of over 3.64 lakh votes against his nearest rival, Annie Raja of the CPI.
With the Congress leader also winning handily from Rae Bareli, there are questions about which constituency he will now choose to represent in the Lok Sabha, although he has said he has not yet made a decision.
Asked about which seat he would represent in Lok Sabha, Gandhi said on Tuesday, "I have won from both the seats and I want to wholeheartedly thank the voters of Rae Bareli and Wayanad. Now I have to decide which seat I will stay on, will discuss and then decide. Can't hold on to both the seats, but I haven't decided yet." "I am being asked whether I would remain the MP of Wayanad or Rae Bareli, I want to remain MP for both. Congratulations to all of you," the former Congress president had said.
The Congress-led UDF was always confident about the victory of their leader, widely perceived to be the Prime Ministerial candidate of the INDIA bloc, from their stronghold Wayanad in the polls held on April 26.
The BJP and the Left, who had fielded strong candidates to challenge Gandhi, claimed he would abandon Wayanad if he won from Rae Bareli in Uttar Pradesh. Interestingly, his plans to contest from another seat in the country's northern region were not confirmed until the completion of the second phase of the election, when Kerala voted for Lok Sabha polls.
Senior CPI leader Annie Raja was the Left candidate from the constituency, while the BJP's state chief K Surendran was tasked with taking on Gandhi and Raja, both leaders of INDIA bloc partners.
Famous for its lush green hills, diverse cultural heritage, and significant tribal population, the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency has been a focal point of Indian politics since it gained national attention with Rahul Gandhi's candidacy in 2019.
The constituency was created in 2008 during the delimitation process. It includes seven assembly segments: Kalpetta, Sulthan Bathery, and Mananthavady in Wayanad district; Thiruvambady in Kozhikode; and Nilambur, Wandoor, and Eranad in Malappuram. Each segment reflects the diverse socio-economic fabric of the region.
Agriculture, the backbone of Wayanad's economy, is facing numerous challenges, such as fluctuating market prices and crop failures. The constituency is also dealing with issues related to tribal welfare, environmental conservation, and the need for robust infrastructure development.
During the UDF campaign, emphasis was placed on Rahul Gandhi's work in the constituency, highlighting his significant impact on Wayanad since his election in 2019 and his ability to bring a global perspective to local issues. The BJP and the Left countered this by alleging Rahul Gandhi's long absence from the constituency and his failure to address key issues affecting the people, including the human-animal conflict.
The Congress argued that Gandhi had championed several initiatives to improve the lives of people, particularly tribals and the poor, in his constituency.
In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Gandhi won the Wayanad seat with a significant margin of 4,31,770 votes over his nearest rival, P P Suneer of the CPI.
The voter turnout in the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency during the 2019 elections was 80.31 per cent.
This time, 73.57 per cent of the voters cast their ballot. The fierce battle in the constituency saw BJP leader Surendran raise an issue surrounding the name of Sulthan Bathery town, which is associated with Tipu Sultan in the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency.
He suggested that the name should be changed, as the place was originally known as Ganapathivattom before the Mysore ruler invaded the Malabar region of Kerala two centuries ago. The Congress mocked him, saying, "Surendran can say anything." Rahul Gandhi's roadshow in Kalpetta on April 3 garnered national attention during the poll campaign.
In the 2019 constituency, the green flags of Congress ally Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) were more numerous than those of the Congress.
However, during the most recent event, flags, including those of the Congress, were noticeably absent. The IUML and other major UDF partners attended the roadshow, displaying placards with Gandhi's image and his election symbol, the hand.
Party workers also carried balloons of various colours instead of flags.
A source suggests that Congress made the decision not to display flags during the event to avoid negative reactions from the BJP. The CPI(M) criticised the Congress for this decision, alleging that it was made to avoid repercussions in North India.
Follow us
