Wayanad hits all-time low in voter turnout during Priyanka Gandhi’s debut
The Wayanad Lok Sabha bypoll, held on Wednesday, recorded the lowest voter turnout in the constituency’s history—64.72%. This was the first time Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra contested from Wayanad after her brother Rahul Gandhi vacated the seat to focus on Rae Bareli in Uttar Pradesh.
Meanwhile, the Chelakkara assembly bypoll in Thrissur saw a much higher turnout of 72.54%. Priyanka Gandhi faced senior CPI candidate Sathyan Mokeri and BJP’s Navya Haridas in the Wayanad bypoll. Despite Congress campaigning for a “majority of 5 lakh votes,” the turnout fell significantly. The Congress-led UDF, however, downplayed concerns, insisting it wouldn’t affect Priyanka’s expected margin.
VD Satheesan, the opposition leader in Kerala, attributed the low turnout to a lack of voter enthusiasm in CPI(M)-dominated areas. To boost support, Priyanka Gandhi was joined by AICC general secretaries KC Venugopal and Deepa Dasmuni for corner meetings across the constituency. MLAs and Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee members also participated in local campaigning.
The bypoll occurred months after the tragic landslide in Wayanad, which killed 231 people and left 47 missing. To support survivors, special polling booths were set up in Meppadi for affected villages like Mundakkai, Chooralmala, and Attamala.
Prominent Congress leaders, including Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, and Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, also joined Priyanka in her campaign efforts. Despite the low voter turnout, the Congress remains optimistic about her chances in the bypoll.
