The BJP has announced Navya Haridas as its candidate for the upcoming Lok Sabha by-elections in Kerala’s Wayanad, where she will face Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.
The by-election in Wayanad was prompted by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s decision to vacate the seat after being elected from both Wayanad and Raebareli, choosing to retain the latter.
Navya Haridas, the BJP Mahila Morcha’s State General Secretary, has an active political background. She has served as a two-time councillor in Kozhikode Corporation and is currently the BJP parliamentary party leader within the corporation. She also contested in the 2021 Assembly elections from the Kozhikode South constituency as the NDA candidate.
In an interview with India Today after her nomination, Haridas expressed her optimism about the upcoming elections and criticised the Congress for its lack of progress in Wayanad.
According to her, the constituency has not seen the development it deserves, and the Congress has failed to address the needs of its residents. She stressed the need for a representative who is committed to the people and their issues.
Haridas remarked that the BJP's vision for Wayanad is to offer better leadership and development. She emphasised that a Member of Parliament should remain engaged with the constituency’s concerns and strive to find solutions. This, she said, was the distinction the BJP aims to bring in contrast to the Congress, which she claims only visits the area occasionally.
The announcement of Haridas' candidacy came shortly after the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) officially launched its campaign for Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.
UDF leaders are confident that Priyanka will secure a significant victory in the upcoming elections, with All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary KC Venugopal expressing strong support for her candidacy. He believes that the people of Wayanad, who previously backed Rahul Gandhi, will also rally behind Priyanka in these by-elections.
The by-election for the Wayanad seat is scheduled for November 13, and it will be a crucial contest, given the high-profile candidates from both the Congress and BJP. In addition to the BJP and Congress, the Communist Party of India (CPI) has also fielded a candidate.
The CPI has nominated senior leader Sathyan Mokeri to represent the Left Democratic Front (LDF) in the Wayanad constituency. Mokeri, a veteran political figure, will also play a significant role in shaping the contest.
This by-election is set to take place alongside several other assembly by-elections in states such as Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and West Bengal. The BJP has released a list of candidates for these states, reflecting its strategy to maintain a strong presence across key regions.
In Madhya Pradesh, the BJP has named Ramakant Bhargava as its candidate for the Budhni seat, which was vacated by former Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan after his success in the Lok Sabha elections. Reports suggest that Chouhan had considered his son, Kartikey Chouhan, for the Budhni seat, but the party ultimately selected Bhargava.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced the schedule for these by-elections, which cover 48 assembly seats and two Lok Sabha seats across 15 states.
The elections, particularly in Wayanad, are anticipated to be highly competitive, as key political figures like Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Navya Haridas battle for the votes of the constituency’s residents.
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