Lagatar24 Desk
Wayanad: In an unexpected result for Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s electoral debut, the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency saw its lowest-ever voter turnout on Wednesday, with only 64.72% of eligible voters casting their ballots. This turnout marks a historic low for the constituency since its formation in 2009, as reported by The Indian Express.
Low Voter Turnout Despite Congress Efforts
Priyanka Gandhi entered the bypoll race after her brother, Rahul Gandhi, vacated the Wayanad seat in favor of Rae Bareli in Uttar Pradesh. The reduced turnout is notable, particularly as Congress leaders had campaigned for a substantial “5 lakh vote majority” in her favor.
By contrast, the Chelakkara assembly seat in Thrissur, also up for a by-election, recorded a higher turnout of 72.54%.
Campaign Strategies and Challenges
To maximize support, Congress leaders including AICC general secretaries KC Venugopal and Deepa Dasmuni accompanied Priyanka Gandhi in corner meetings, with local MLAs actively campaigning on the ground. Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee office bearers also coordinated panchayat-level outreach to mobilize voters.
In her campaign, Priyanka faced competition from CPI’s veteran candidate Sathyan Mokeri and BJP’s Navya Haridas. Senior Congress figures, such as party president Mallikarjun Kharge and Karnataka’s Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, joined Rahul Gandhi to rally behind her.
Congress Unfazed by Lower Turnout
Despite the lower-than-expected voter turnout, Congress leaders, including opposition leader VD Satheesan, downplayed concerns, attributing the dip to reduced voter enthusiasm in CPI(M)-dominated areas. They remain confident that the turnout will not hinder their projected win.
Polling Under Challenging Circumstances
The by-election came after Wayanad was hit by a devastating landslide months earlier, resulting in 231 fatalities and 47 people still missing. To accommodate survivors, special polling booths were established in affected villages like Mundakkai, Chooralmala, and Attamala, with arrangements made in Meppadi.
