Wayanad, where Priyanka Gandhi made election debut, sees lowest-ever voter turnout
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra contested the Wayanad bypoll after Rahul Gandhi vacated the seat for Rae Bareli.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is contesting against senior CPI candidate Sathyan Mokeri and the BJP’s Navya Haridas. The significant drop in voter turnout has also come after the Congress campaigned for a “majority of 5 lakh votes” for Priyanka Gandhi.
The Congress-led UDF dismissed any concerns that the reduced voter turnout would affect their projected margin for Priyanka Gandhi, reported news agency PTI.
The leader of the opposition in the assembly, VD Satheesan, stated that the low turnout was due to a lack of enthusiasm among voters in CPI(M)- dominated areas.
To garner support from voters, AICC general secretaries KC Venugopal and Deepa Dasmuni accompanied Priyanka Gandhi for corner meetings in the constituency. Also, they ensured that MLAs were present on ground during her campaign,
Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee office bearers also helped Gandhi with panchayat-level campaigning.
Senior Congress leaders, such as party president Mallikarjun Kharge, opposition leader Rahul Gandhi, and Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar, also led Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s campaign.
The constituency held polling just months after a landslide in Wayanad killed 231 people and left 47 missing. Polling booths for survivors from the affected villages of Mundakkai, Chooralmala, and Attamala were set up in Meppadi.
