Rahul Gandhi won the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency for the second time, defeating his nearest rival, CPI’s Annie Raja, by over 3.64 lakh votes. This seat comprises three assembly constituencies in Wayanad, three in Muslim-dominated Malappuram and one in Kozhikode, which has a sizeable Christian voter base. Gandhi also won in Rae Bareli, creating uncertainty over which seat he would eventually represent in the Lok Sabha.
“I have won both seats and I would like to thank the voters of Rae Bareli and Wayanad. I have not decided which seat I will stay,” Gandhi said on Tuesday after the results of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections were announced, PTI reported.
According to the report, the Congress-led UDF was confident of Gandhi’s victory in Wayanad, his stronghold. Despite challenges from the BJP and Left candidates, support for Gandhi remained strong. Detractors from the BJP and the Left believed that Gandhi would give up Wayanad if he kept Rae Bareli.
Lok Sabha Election Results 2024: Gandhi’s Wayanad candidature
Wayanad, known for its lush green hills, unique cultural heritage and large tribal population, received national prominence with Gandhi’s candidacy in 2019. The constituency, established in 2008, covers Kalpetta, Sulthan Bathery and Mananthavady in Wayanad district; Thiruvambady in Kozhikode; and Nilambur, Wandoor and Eranad in Malappuram, the PTI report added.
Agriculture is the backbone of Wayanad’s economy and faces obstacles such as changes in market prices and crop failures. Other pressing issues include tribal welfare, environmental conservation and infrastructure development.
Lok Sabha election results 2024: BJP and Left questioned Gandhi’s absence in Wayanad
During the campaign, the UDF emphasized Gandhi’s efforts in Wayanad and his global perspective on local concerns, while the BJP and the Left questioned his absence from the electorate and failed to address critical issues such as human-animal conflict, the agency reported. of news. aggregate.
The PTI report claimed that in the 2019 elections, Gandhi defeated CPI candidate PP Suneer by 4,31,770 votes in Wayanad. Voter turnout this year was 73.57 percent, up from 80.31 percent in 2019.
K Surendran, a BJP leader, took up the issue of renaming the city of Sulthan Bathery, earlier known as Ganapathivattom, to represent a historical emotion. Gandhi’s tour in Kalpetta on April 3 attracted national attention, with posters of his portrait and electoral symbol replacing the prominent green flags of ally IUML seen in 2019, probably to avoid unwanted reactions from BJP critics, the agency claimed. of news.
CPI leader Annie Raja was the Left candidate in Wayanad, while BJP state president K Surendran also contested, making it a high-stakes campaign. The CPI(M) attacked the Congress for not hoisting the IUML’s green flags during Gandhi’s tour, alleging that the move was taken to avoid a violent reaction in north India, the report added.