Thiruvananthapuram: The initial hours of vote counting in Kerala’s 2024 bypolls indicate clear early trends, with Priyanka Gandhi Vadra of the Congress-led UDF securing a strong lead in Wayanad. She currently holds an impressive margin of 13,800 votes, signaling dominance in the constituency. This comes as no surprise, given her position as the frontrunner in the by-election, aiming to retain the seat previously held by her brother Rahul Gandhi.
Meanwhile, in the Chelakkara assembly constituency, the CPM-led LDF’s U R Pradeep, contesting for the ruling coalition, has taken an early lead with a margin of 1,219 votes. Chelakkara has traditionally been an LDF stronghold, and the trend so far aligns with expectations.
The Palakkad constituency, however, has thrown up an initial surprise. BJP candidate C Krishnakumar has maintained a slim lead of 160 votes over his rivals in the first rounds of counting. This has added tension to the contest, with UDF supporters hoping for a reversal as the counting progresses.
Political party camps are watching anxiously as the results unfold, with UDF and LDF appearing comfortable in their respective strongholds of Wayanad and Chelakkara. The BJP’s unexpected lead in Palakkad has set the stage for a gripping finish in this high-stakes electoral battle.
