Priyanka Gandhi: Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will contest the Lok Sabha by-election from Wayanad for the first time. Ramya Haridas will contest from Chelakkara and Rahul Mamkuthil will contest from Palakkad assembly constituency. Wayanad seat has become vacant after the resignation of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. By-elections will be held on Palakkad and Chelakara assembly seats on November 13. Only after Rahul's resignation, Congress declared Priyanka as its candidate from Wayanad.
By-elections will be held on November 13 to Wayanad Lok Sabha seat vacated by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Palakkad and Chelakara assembly seats vacated after Congress's Shafi Parambil and CPI(M)'s K Radhakrishnan were elected to the Lok Sabha.
In 2024, Rahul Gandhi won the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat by 3 lakh 64 thousand votes, whereas in 2019, Rahul Gandhi won the same seat by a record 4 lakh 31 thousand 770 votes.
CPI, which fielded senior leader Annie Raja in Wayanad in the last Lok Sabha elections, has not yet decided its candidate. CPI(M) is expected to announce candidates for Palakkad and Chelakara soon. BJP has also not announced the candidates yet.
The CPI will announce the ruling LDF's candidate for Wayanad after its meeting on October 17. Speaking to reporters in Thiruvananthapuram, CPI state secretary Binoy Viswam said a suitable candidate would be fielded against Priyanka in Wayanad.