'Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Poised for Stunning Victory in Wayanad as By-Polls Favor Ruling Parties

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is on the brink of a significant electoral win in Kerala's Wayanad with over 410,000 votes, outperforming her brother Rahul Gandhi. Meanwhile, ruling parties secure a stronghold in by-polls nationwide. Here’s a closer look at the latest developments.

P24 News Media

November 23, 2024

1 minute

'Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Poised for Stunning Victory in Wayanad as By-Polls Favor Ruling Parties

India

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is on track to achieve a remarkable victory in the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency, having garnered a lead of 410,931 votes. This triumph marks her debut in the electoral landscape and surpasses the previous win by her brother, Rahul Gandhi, earlier this summer.

The Wayanad seat became vacant following Rahul Gandhi's decision to retain his Rae Bareli seat in Uttar Pradesh, where he also contested. Priyanka secured a total of 622,338 votes, while Sathyan Mokeri from the Communist Party of India trailed significantly with 211,407 votes. This positioning indicates not only her popularity but also a potential milestone in her political journey, as she is set to exceed Rahul's previous margin of victory of 364,000 votes.

In addition to the significant developments in Wayanad, the parliamentary by-elections also extended to other states, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leading in Maharashtra's Nanded constituency. Here, Santukrao Marotrao Hambarde from the BJP stood at 287,149 votes, narrowly beating Congress's Chavan Ravindra Vasantrao, who garnered 276,013 votes.

The by-poll elections in Wayanad coincided with contests for nine assembly seats across multiple states, including Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and West Bengal, among others. The ruling parties, particularly in these states, demonstrated a firm grip on the assembly seats.

In Uttar Pradesh, the BJP secured victories in districts such as Ghaziabad, Khair, and Phulpur, while showing promising leads in Kundarki, Majhawan, and Katehari. Contrastingly, the opposition Samajwadi Party (SP) emerged victorious in Karhal and Sishamau. These results come on the heels of the BJP's mixed performance in the state’s Lok Sabha elections, where their seat count dropped significantly from 62 to 33.

The by-elections served as a litmus test for Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s leadership style, particularly his contentious slogan “Batoge to Katoge,” which has drawn criticism for its tone. This slogan aimed to consolidate Hindu votes but met with opposition branding it as divisive, with the SP countering with “Judoge to Jeetoge”, advocating for unity.

Moreover, Akhilesh Yadav, the former chief minister, relied on his “PDA formula” to win over voters, aiming to maintain the party's momentum from the Lok Sabha polls into the upcoming assembly elections in 2027.

Across Bihar, the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) achieved a clean sweep of all four contested seats, showcasing its stable presence amid growing competition. The BJP also secured crucial wins in Assam and Gujarat, while Congress shone brightly in Karnataka, clinching all three contested seats there.

Rajasthan's by-poll results revealed victories for the BJP in Deoli-Uniara and Salumber, while the ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal further cemented its dominance by winning five seats.

As these results unfold, they not only reflect the shifting dynamics of Indian politics but also set the stage for the approaching 2024 national polls, making the upcoming months critical for all parties involved. The political landscape remains tumultuous yet exciting, with leaders adjusting their strategies to cater to changing voter sentiments and alliances.