Wayanad: Voting is currently underway in Kerala’s Wayanad Lok Sabha and Chelakkara Assembly bypolls, where candidates have been seen actively visiting polling stations to engage with voters. In Wayanad, mock polling started as early as 6 a.m., and official voting is scheduled from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. across 31 constituencies in 10 states, including seven seats in Rajasthan, six in West Bengal, five in Assam, four in Bihar, and others spread across Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Kerala, and Meghalaya. Results for these elections will be announced on November 23.
In Wayanad, Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is competing in her first electoral contest, aiming to hold onto the Congress’s influence and strengthen the support base established by her brother Rahul Gandhi. A total of 16 candidates are running, including LDF’s Sathyan Mokeri and NDA’s Navya Haridas, with over 1.4 million voters registered across the constituency. Rahul Gandhi previously won the seat by a margin of 4.3 lakh votes in 2019 and 3.5 lakh votes in 2024 but vacated it following his victory in Raebareli. The Wayanad constituency covers seven Assembly segments: Mananthavady, Sulthan Bathery, Kalpetta, Thiruvambady, Eranad, Nilambur, and Wandoor. Security measures include more than 1,000 booths equipped with CRPF and Armed Police Battalion forces, especially in areas with Maoist activity or unrest, where special surveillance has been implemented. Authorities have also seized drugs, illicit liquor, cash, and a country-made gun since the election code was activated in Malappuram.
Meanwhile, in the Chelakkara Assembly constituency, the atmosphere is charged as nine local panchayats prepare for a fierce contest. The LDF currently controls six panchayats, and the UDF holds three. Key candidates include CPM’s U R Pradeep, Congress’s Ramya Haridas, and BJP’s K Balakrishnan. Known for its LDF dominance, Chelakkara has seen six consecutive wins for the party, with a 39,400-vote lead in 2021. However, the reduced margin of 5,173 votes in the 2024 Lok Sabha election has bolstered Congress’s optimism for a breakthrough in the traditionally LDF-leaning seat.
