Priyanka Gandhi Vadra prioritised Wayanad with relentless campaigning, supported by Rahul and Sonia Gandhi, and party leaders, but reports suggest it may not be a landslide win.
New Delhi: The Wayanad election results could significantly shape the assembly elections scheduled for early 2026. Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi, aiming to surpass her brother Rahul Gandhi’s previous victories in Wayanad, faces hurdles that may have broader implications for the Congress party and its leadership. The outcome could also impact KC Venugopal, Congress’s Organization General Secretary, seen as a key strategist for this campaign.
Priyanka Gandhi has invested heavily in the campaign, focusing exclusively on Wayanad with relentless rallies, roadshows, and public interactions since filing her nomination on October 23. Her dedication saw her skip campaigning in other states, prioritizing Wayanad entirely. Rahul Gandhi, along with senior leaders like Mallikarjun Kharge and KC Venugopal, joined the campaign trail to bolster Priyanka’s efforts. Even Sonia Gandhi, Robert Vadra, and their son Rehan were active participants. However, early reports suggest that the results might not meet expectations.
While a Congress victory in Wayanad seems likely, the margin of victory is expected to shrink significantly, a troubling development for Priyanka and the party. Kerala has been a critical state for Congress, but its political landscape has shifted. The party suffered consecutive assembly election defeats, with the Left retaining power for the first time in history in 2021. Meanwhile, the BJP has made inroads, gaining ground in districts like Kozhikode, part of the Wayanad constituency, signalling a challenge to both Congress and the Left. The BJP’s strategy of targeting Hindu voters could further divide the electorate, with minority votes splitting between Congress and the Left. Congress’s alliance with the Muslim League and other minority organizations has become a focal point for criticism, with Kerala Chief Minister P. Vijayan accusing Congress of aligning with the Jamaat. Simultaneously, the Christian community’s discontent over land disputes with the Waqf Board has added to Congress’s challenges.
Voter turnout in Wayanad has dropped to 65%, the lowest since the constituency’s creation in 2009. This marks a significant decline from the 80% turnout in 2014 and 73% in 2019 when Rahul Gandhi secured resounding victories. A reduced margin of victory for Priyanka could signal a setback for her aspirations to enter the Lok Sabha with a decisive win.
The results are expected to intensify internal politics within Congress. KC Venugopal, a native of Kerala and a close ally of Rahul Gandhi, could face criticism from Priyanka for the campaign’s shortcomings. A strong performance by Priyanka may shift power dynamics within the Kerala Congress, with her supporters potentially challenging Venugopal’s influence. This could lead to factionalism, impacting the party’s preparation for the assembly elections.
Kerala’s political dynamics could also strain Congress-Left relations. As Kerala remains the Left’s last bastion and Congress’s key hope for revival, both sides are vying for dominance. Despite their national alliance, tensions in Kerala may escalate, with leaders like P. Vijayan urging the Gandhi family to focus on seats in North India. This rivalry could influence the broader political landscape, impacting their collaboration against the BJP at the national level.
The Wayanad election is a litmus test for Priyanka Gandhi and Congress, with its outcome likely to reverberate through Kerala’s political landscape and beyond.