Priyanka's record-breaking win, supported by Congress's grassroots efforts, UDF, and IUML, reflects the party’s strategy of using northern leaders to bridge regional and national interests. Her influence is expected to make representation for South stronger.
Published Nov 23, 2024 | 4:47 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 23, 2024 | 4:47 PM
Priyanka Gandhi's Victory in Wayanad was anticipated by political experts, marking a significant moment for the Congress party in South India.
Priyanka Gandhi’s victory in Wayanad was widely anticipated by political experts, marking a significant milestone for the Congress party in South India. The choice to field a prominent national leader like Priyanka from Wayanad underscores the Congress’s strategic emphasis on the southern states.
My dearest sisters and brothers of Wayanad,
I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the trust you have placed in me. I will make sure that over time, you truly feel this victory has been your victory and the person you chose to represent you understands your hopes and dreams and…— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) November 23, 2024
Following Rahul Gandhi’s decision to retain his Raebareli seat, where he secured 390,030 votes with a vote share of 66.17 percent, Priyanka stepped in to sustain the Congress’s dominance in Wayanad. Her campaign not only upheld but surpassed expectations, setting a new record in the region with over 4.1 lakh-vote margin and an unprecedented 64.25% vote share at 3.27 PM.
The constituency, represented exclusively by the Congress since its formation in 2009, has been a stronghold for the party. Rahul Gandhi’s 2019 victory in Wayanad with 64.94 percent of the total votes and a historic margin of 4,31,770 votes had already demonstrated the party’s influence. In contrast, the BJP had only managed 7.25 percent of the votes in that election.
By 2024, the contest became more competitive, but Rahul Gandhi retained the region with a decisive margin of 364,422 votes and a vote share of 59.69 percent. CPI’s Annie Raja garnered 26.09 percent of the votes, while BJP’s K. Surendran saw a slight improvement, reaching a 13 percent vote share.
However, the Congress’s grassroots efforts, bolstered by UDF machinery and the Indian Union Muslim League’s (IUML) active participation, paved the way for Priyanka’s record-breaking win.
This electoral triumph highlights the Congress’s strategy of deploying national leaders with northern roots to represent the South in Parliament, aiming to bridge regional and national interests. Priyanka’s role is expected to extend beyond Wayanad, influencing policy decisions for South India as a whole.
Senior journalist and political analyst Rejimon Kuttappan believes that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s MP role for Wayanad will have a significant impact on Indian politics, especially in terms of strengthening southern representation in Parliament.
In a conversation with South First, Kuttappan emphasised the need for MPs from South India to make better use of their parliamentary status to amplify the region’s voice on the national stage.
He stated, “There is an urgent need to represent the South more effectively in the Indian Parliament, especially from opposition parties. Congress has followed this pattern of choosing leaders for southern states in the past, as seen in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu. Wayanad, for Congress, is considered a safe seat, but Priyanka’s entry will undoubtedly reshape Kerala’s political landscape and have a ripple effect across South India. From its early days, Congress has been intentional in bringing southern representation to the national forefront, which is a policy that dates back to the 1960s.”
Kuttappan continued, “Even though Rahul Gandhi vacated the seat, it was clear from sources within Congress that the party would continue with this tradition of appointing a prominent national leader from the north to represent the south. This is not just about Kerala—it’s part of a broader strategy to enhance South India’s visibility in Parliament.
Priyanka’s first entry into Parliament will set new standards, and I believe she will perform admirably. A parliamentarian’s role goes beyond constituency work, it involves active policy-making. Unfortunately, some Congress MPs from Kerala have failed to live up to these expectations. Parliament is not like a state assembly or district council where MPs can focus solely on local issues. It is a platform for shaping national policies.”
He pointed out the shortcomings of certain MPs who have been suspended for improper conduct, such as Ramya Haridas and TN Prathapan, criticising their lack of understanding of parliamentary decorum.
“While the BJP’s dirty politics played a role in some of these suspensions, it is clear that many MPs still do not know how to function effectively in Parliament. In contrast, MPs like NK Premachandran and Shashi Tharoor have shown how to advocate for regional policies, be part of different parliamentary panels, and work collaboratively with the government to drive change.”
Kuttappan expressed confidence that Priyanka Gandhi will excel in this area. He dismissed any concerns over a potential language barrier, stating, “The language should not be a hindrance. The goal of any parliamentarian is to use their position to improve the livelihoods of the people. Take Shafi Parambil, who won from Vadakara. After his victory, we discussed issues like migration, and he tried to bring a bill for it. A good parliamentarian consults experts, understands the issues deeply, and brings practical solutions, rather than engaging in state-centric squabbles.”
Kuttappan concluded, “Priyanka has the capacity and skills to address significant issues, and I believe she will quickly adapt, learn the necessary details, and drive solutions. For instance, issues like man-animal conflict in Wayanad require a strong, well-crafted bill in Parliament to tackle them effectively. Priyanka Gandhi has the potential to make a real impact.”
The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), a longstanding and reliable ally of the Congress, has once again demonstrated its political strength in the region. Panakkad Sadiq Ali Thangal, Chairman of the National Political Advisory Committee of IUML, expressed his gratitude to the voters for Priyanka Gandhi’s victory. In a statement to the media, he remarked, “In Wayanad, Priyanka Gandhi has surpassed Rahul Gandhi’s winning margin. This is the result of the hard work of grassroots party workers.”
The IUML played a pivotal role as the major campaign force in Wayanad during this election, which also carries a strong political message.
In a conversation with South First, PK Firoz, the State President of the Youth League, stated, “In Wayanad, there are several assembly constituencies where the IUML has a strong presence, particularly in Kozhikode’s Thiruvambady, and Malappuram’s Eranad, Nilambur, and Wandoor. We followed a disciplined and professional campaign strategy in Wayanad.
At the national level, there was criticism when Rahul Gandhi first contested from Wayanad regarding the Muslim League’s green flag. The Sangh Parivar spread hateful rhetoric, labeling it as the ‘Pakistan flag.’ However, people are now more informed about the truth.
In the last Lok Sabha elections, the BJP did not even mention the League’s flag. This is why we strategically used the IUML flag to address these issues. Priyanka Ji’s victory reflects the unity of Kerala’s minorities and their growing influence in national politics.
IUML has always chosen to be part of a secular alliance. In Tamil Nadu, we have a strong presence and work effectively with the DMK. The IUML will expand its participation to other southern states as well.”
When Rahul Gandhi vacated his Wayanad seat, Annie Raja, his former opponent from the CPI, announced that she would not contest in the bypolls. This created an opportunity for Sathyan Mokeri, a senior CPI leader, to contest the seat.
Sathyan Mokeri of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) finished second with 211,407 votes, while Navya Haridas of the BJP received 109939 votes at 3.27 PM on Saturday.
The total number of votes cast in the bypolls was 952,543, marking a decrease of approximately 132,000 votes compared to the previous Lok Sabha elections, with the largest drop occurring in LDF strongholds.
In a conversation with South First, Kalpetta MLA T. Siddique remarked, “The CPI should reflect on whether the CPM showed any genuine commitment during the Wayanad bypolls. We never witnessed such a poor campaign from our opponents. They didn’t hold any family meetings, large public gatherings, or even arrange transport for people to reach the booths. There was no CPM representation in Wayanad during the field campaign either.”
The question of whether Priyanka Gandhi’s potential shift to Wayanad will impact Uttar Pradesh, particularly her absence from the region, has been raised by many political analysts.
However, according to Rejimon Kuttappan, this concern is unfounded. He argues, “I don’t believe her absence from Uttar Pradesh will have a significant impact. Nehru family is based in Allahabad, and election politics are different. We can’t expect Yogi Adityanath to secure another win in Uttar Pradesh.
These political shifts were evident in the last Lok Sabha elections. Smriti Irani lost to Congress’ Kishori Lal Sharma in Amethi, and Akhilesh Yadav’s Samajwadi Party is also gaining more ground in the state. Therefore, there’s no reason for INDIA to worry about Uttar Pradesh. For me, Priyanka’s education and experience are more crucial. I hope she will use her position as an MP to focus on policy-making, rather than just electoral politics.”
(Edited by Ananya Rao)
