In Kerala, the Congress party is gearing up for the upcoming Wayanad bypolls, aiming for a significant victory for Priyanka Gandhi. The party has set an ambitious target for her to win with a margin of five lakh votes, surpassing the winning margin achieved by her brother, Rahul Gandhi, in the 2019 elections, which was 4.60 lakh votes.
Veteran Congress leader and Kasargod MP Rajmohan Unnithan, known for his dynamic speeches, expressed confidence in achieving this target. He attributed the current political climate in Kerala to the struggles faced by the Pinarayi Vijayan government, which he claims is mired in controversies and misdeeds. Furthermore, Unnithan pointed to the BJP’s loss of credibility following the recent landslides in Wayanad, despite Prime Minister Modi's visit to the affected areas.
Rahul Gandhi, who won the Wayanad seat in the 2019 general elections, vacated it after successfully winning the Raebareli Lok Sabha seat in the 2024 elections. This has paved the way for Priyanka Gandhi’s candidacy in Wayanad.
Sources indicate that both Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi are expected to visit Kerala on October 23, with Priyanka scheduled to file her nomination papers on the same day.
A comprehensive election meeting is set to be held to devise a strategic campaign plan for Priyanka Gandhi's bid. This comes in the wake of the Election Commission of India's announcement regarding the bypoll dates, which was met with enthusiasm from the locals. Celebrations erupted in the Wayanad constituency, marked by the erection of billboards and the display of paintings celebrating Priyanka Gandhi.
Wayanad is composed of seven assembly constituencies that span across three districts—Wayanad, Malappuram, and Kozhikode.
Out of these, four constituencies are currently held by the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF), while two are under the control of the CPI-M, and one is represented by a left-backed independent legislator, P.V. Anvar, who has since split from the ruling Left coalition to form his own party.
In the previous elections, Rahul Gandhi won the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat with a margin of 4.6 lakh votes. However, in the 2024 elections, his winning margin dropped to 3.64 lakh votes, reflecting a changing political landscape in the region.
The Communist Party of India has decided to field its veteran leader, Sathyan Mokeri, as their candidate from Wayanad, while the BJP is yet to announce their choice for the election.
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