The Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency, where the bypoll was held on Wednesday, recorded the lowest voter turnout of 64.72 per cent for the seat since its formation in 2009,
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra contested the elections for the first time from Wayanad after Rahul Gandhi vacated the seat to retain his Rae Bareli constituency in Uttar Pradesh, prompting the need for a bypoll.
Bypolls also took place in the Chelakkara assembly seat in Thrissur, where voters turned out at a rate of 72.54 percent, much higher than in Wayanad.
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 polling in the constituency took place just months after a landslide in Wayanad killed 231 people and left 47 others missing. Authorities arranged polling booths for survivors from the affected villages of Mundakkai, Chooralmala, and Attamala in Meppadi.
