Wayanad: Following the Election Commission's announcement of the Wayanad Lok Sabha by-election scheduled for November 13, Congress workers are enthusiastically launching their campaign for Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, the party's candidate.

In the hilly regions of Wayanad, Congress supporters have begun putting up billboards and painting her name on walls across the constituency, which encompasses seven Assembly constituencies across the districts of Wayanad, Malappuram, and Kozhikode.

The Wayanad seat gained international attention in 2019 when Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka's brother, was selected to contest and won by an impressive margin of 4.6 lakh votes. However, in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections on April 26, his margin dropped to 3.64 lakh, partly due to the increased support for K. Surendran, the State BJP President, who significantly boosted his party's performance compared to previous elections.

With Rahul Gandhi deciding to vacate Wayanad in favor of Raebareli, many Congress workers expressed concern that this decision could have negative consequences. However, before leaving the constituency, Rahul assured his supporters that he would not abandon Wayanad, and the unexpected announcement of Priyanka Gandhi as his replacement brought renewed joy to the party.

The electorate in Wayanad has shown signs of acceptance for Priyanka’s candidacy, especially during her and Rahul’s visit in July after a devastating tragedy in the region, which resulted in nearly 400 deaths or disappearances due to severe flooding. Despite their grief, many locals turned out to greet the siblings.

Priyanka Gandhi's victory appears to be a strong possibility, according to the optimistic State BJP President Surendran, who stated that his party intends to maintain its winning streak in the upcoming by-elections and is preparing to put up a tough fight in Wayanad.

For the ruling Left Democratic Front, the seat represents their second-largest ally, the CPI. In the last election, Annie Raja, the wife of CPI General Secretary D. Raja, was their candidate, and the party is expected to announce its new candidate soon.

As the campaign heats up, all eyes are on Priyanka Gandhi, whose family's legacy has resonated deeply with the electorate.

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