As wait begins in Wayanad, Cong brings down Priyanka’s vote margin from 5 to 4 lakh

Wayanad: Following the conclusion of the high-profile Wayanad Lok Sabha by-election, Congress campaign managers for Priyanka Gandhi, who serves as the AICC General Secretary, are attempting to maintain a positive outlook despite a significant decline in voter turnout, which dropped from 73.57% in the general elections to a record low of 64.72% in this by-election.

T. Siddique, the main campaign manager and a local party legislator, emphasized that by-elections should not be compared to general elections. “The atmosphere during the general elections in April was different, which naturally leads to a decrease in turnout during by-elections,” Siddique explained. He added that preliminary analyses suggest that while a large portion of their votes were cast, the same cannot be said for the Left and BJP supporters. He expressed confidence that Priyanka would win with a margin exceeding that of Rahul Gandhi’s in April, projecting a victory margin of over four lakh votes.

On the other hand, BJP candidate Navya Haridas, a young computer engineer and current councillor at Kozhikode Corporation, expressed optimism about their vote turnout. She noted that there was a general sentiment that the election felt forced, which likely contributed to the lower voter participation.

Priyanka Gandhi campaigned vigorously in the constituency for 14 days and received a warm welcome, which reportedly surprised both the BJP and CPI-M camps. The Wayanad constituency spans three districts—Wayanad, Kozhikode, and Malappuram—and includes seven Assembly constituencies.

As the counting day approaches on November 23, further analyses are anticipated, leaving the question of whether Priyanka will achieve a record-breaking five lakh majority still uncertain.