The Wayanad Lok Sabha bypolls, where Congress heavyweight Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is making her electoral debut, saw a significant dip in voter turnout, with only 63 percent of eligible voters casting their ballots by the end of polling at 6 p.m. This sharp drop in turnout has raised questions, especially in comparison to the record-breaking 80.37 percent turnout in 2019, when Rahul Gandhi contested the seat for the first time. Back then, his popularity brought in a wave of support, winning him a landslide 64.94 percent of the total votes cast.
The current by-election was necessitated after Rahul Gandhi decided to give up Wayanad to retain Raebareli in Uttar Pradesh. The change has stirred political sentiment. And both the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the BJP, accused Rahul of “betraying” Wayanad by abandoning the constituency after getting elected. The CPI brought back Satyan Mokeri, a seasoned leader who narrowly lost in 2014, to challenge Priyanka. Meanwhile, the BJP has fielded Navya Haridas, a dynamic young leader, hoping to consolidate a new base among younger and first-time voters.
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The LDF and BJP have centered their campaigns on Rahul’s departure, using it to question the Gandhi family’s commitment to Wayanad. Although Priyanka’s candidacy has attracted sizable crowds, particularly among women, the low turnout suggests a mixed response from voters, indicating possible disinterest or skepticism. Some observers believe the decline in turnout reflects voter disillusionment following Rahul’s exit, while others suggest that many, particularly left-leaning voters, may have chosen to sit out what they viewed as a largely one-sided race.