New Delhi: The Congress is excited by the prospect of Priyanka Gandhi contesting from Wayanad Lok Sabha seat in Kerala, but the decline in Rahul Gandhi’s victory margin in recent elections reflects many shortcomings in the party organization and its campaigning in the constituency. Rahul’s victory margin fell from 4.31 lakh in 2019 to 3.64 lakh in 2024, while some UDF candidates doubled their margin. Rahul’s vote share has dropped from 64.64% in 2019 to 59.69% this time. By fielding Priyanka Gandhi from Wayanad, the Congress wants to strengthen itself in South India. Secondly, the path to power in the country goes through Uttar Pradesh, so after a good performance in these elections, Rahul Gandhi does not want to leave UP now. However, only the results of these by-elections will tell how successful the Congress is in its strategy, since anything is possible in politics.
Vote decline in three assembly constituencies
Out of the seven assembly constituencies that fall under the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat, Rahul’s vote share has declined drastically in Kalpatta, Mananthavady and Sultan Bathery assembly constituencies. Rahul’s vote share has decreased in these three assembly constituencies. Compared to the margin of the 2019 elections, this time Rahul has won the seat by 67,328 fewer votes. Out of this, 56,491 votes have been lost from three assembly constituencies, two of which are held by Congress MLAs.
Meanwhile, Rahul’s vote share and margin has increased in the Eranad assembly constituency under Malappuram district, where Congress’ ally Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) has a strong presence. However, Rahul’s margin in Malappuram’s Wandoor and Nilambur assembly constituencies has decreased compared to 2019. Leader of Opposition in Kerala Assembly and Congress MLA V.D. Sateeshan said that the state has already given Priyanka a place in its hearts. He said Rahul has taken a decision that is acceptable to the people of both Rae Bareli and Wayanad. She will be elected from Wayanad with a huge majority. Priyanka is familiar with the voters of Wayanad. In Rahul’s 2019 and 2024 campaigns, she had joined him in rallies and road shows in the constituency.
IUML state unit president Panakkad Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal said the party had urged the Congress leadership to field Priyanka in case Rahul vacates the seat. It is a decision that will strengthen the India Bloc and the UDF in Kerala. It will ensure the future of secularism. Priyanka’s presence in the Lok Sabha is inevitable. It is the wish of the people that she contests from Wayanad. CPI CPI state secretary Binoy Viswam said, “Rahul has betrayed his voters by leaving Wayanad. The CPI and Left Democratic Front (LDF) will take a collective decision on the candidate against Priyanka. The LDF will give a tough fight to the UDF in Wayanad.” He said the Congress should not have done this drama and the party still has to assimilate the politics of India Block.
State BJP president K Surendran, who lost the election to Rahul Gandhi, said that the people of Wayanad have understood the meaning of Rahul’s claim that Wayanad is his family. Rahul meant that his sister will contest from this seat. I hope that Congress will bring Rahul’s brother-in-law Robert Vadra as the party’s candidate for Palakkad assembly seat, where a by-election will be held. He said that such a decision will completely satisfy the Congress in Kerala.
Senior journalist and writer Neerja Chaudhary says that I think the Congress party has taken this well-planned decision. Seeing the way Congress performed in Uttar Pradesh and the way BJP suffered losses, the party wants to give a message that how much importance it gives to Uttar Pradesh. Apart from this, the importance of the clear equation between Akhilesh Yadav and Rahul Gandhi should also not be underestimated. Both parties have benefited from the mutual understanding and equation between the two. Yes, earlier it seemed that Rahul would keep Wayanad with him. Especially when Priyanka Gandhi was more active in Rae Bareli.
