Wayanad bypoll results 2024: Can Priyanka Gandhi Vadra win her first election battle? | India News – Times of India

The Wayanad parliamentary seat has grabbed national attention as Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra makes her electoral debut and contests the crucial constituency poll.
Vadra faces competition from CPI veteran Sathyan Mokeri and the BJP’s Navya Haridas, with all eyes on whether she can repeat the victory of her brother Rahul Gandhi, who vacated the seat earlier this year.
Also read: Maharashtra, Jharkhand Assembly election results
Of the 9.52 lakh votes polled, the district Congress leadership estimates nearly six lakh votes for her. The estimates for LDF candidate Sathyan Mokeri and BJP candidate Navya Haridas are close to two lakh and one lakh votes respectively. “We are not at all worried about the victory or the majority that Priyanka Gandhi will secure. The low turnout will not affect the majority,” AICC Secretary General KC Venugopal said, adding that AICC was looking into the reasons for the “unexpected” low turnout.
Also read: Bypoll results 2024

Rahul Gandhi’s exit paved the way for Priyanka

Rahul Gandhi, who held the Wayanad seat since 2019, announced his decision to quit the constituency after his election in the 2024 general elections.
Rahul, who had secured victories in both Wayanad and Rae Bareli, opted to retain his seat in Uttar Pradesh, leading to the need for a by-poll in Wayanad. The Congress then nominated Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on the seat.

Three-way match in Wayanad

Priyanka Gandhi’s entry into the electoral fray has led to a high-profile contest in Wayanad, where she is pitted against 15 other candidates, including Sathyan Mokeri of the LDF and Navya Haridas of the NDA. With political dynamics at play, this midterm poll has become more than just a local contest.
The EC has taken extensive steps to ensure a smooth voting process, setting up 1,354 polling booths in the constituency, all equipped with webcasting facilities to monitor the elections in real time.

The Congress stronghold is at stake

Historically, Wayanad has been a Congress stronghold, with the party winning a seat in every election since its inception in 2008. Rahul Gandhi’s victories in 2019 and 2024 were resounding, achieving margins of 4.3 lakh and 3.6 lakh votes respectively.
However, the UDF (United Democratic Front) is now banking on Priyanka Gandhi’s popularity to retake the seat. The Congress hopes that its appeal, coupled with the party’s traditional support base among minorities, settlers, farmers and tribal communities, will help secure a significant victory.

Priyanka’s campaign rallies attract large crowds

Priyanka Gandhi’s campaign rallies have been marked by a large female audience, a trend the UDF interprets as a positive sign for its electoral prospects.
The crowds at the rallies, coupled with the foundation laid by the party in the form of door-to-door outreach and community engagement, indicated that Priyanka was positioning herself as a fresh and dynamic face for the constituency.