Upon Wednesday’s arrival at Kalpetta, a throng of individuals, encompassing UDF dignitaries and laborers, congregated to extend a warm reception to the incumbent parliamentarian, Rahul Gandhi, who made his way to file candidacy for the impending Lok Sabha elections.
Accompanied by his sibling, Priyanka Gandhi, Rahul alighted from a helicopter originating from Kannur around 10.45 am. A multitude of party affiliates and enthusiasts welcomed their arrival at the Muppainad helipad.
Journeying thereafter via road to Kalpetta’s new bus terminal, the onset of his roadshow commenced at 11.30 am. As UDF cohorts lined up for the procession, a myriad of individuals across various age groups brandished party insignias and placards adorned with the Congress MP’s likeness, alongside balloons donning the party’s hues, congregating along the thoroughfares to express their welcome.
Perched atop an exposed vehicle, Rahul, flanked by Priyanka and distinguished party figures from Kerala, traversed towards the Civil Station locality as the procession unfolded. From his conveyance, the Congress MP gestured acknowledgment to the throngs adorning both sides of the route, resounding chants of ‘jai jai Rahul Gandhi’ and ‘down down Narendra Modi’ echoing in the air.
Scores of party adherents and supporters led the way, flanking and trailing behind the vehicle. In addition to Priyanka, Rahul was accompanied by AICC dignitaries such as KC Venugopal and Deepa Das, alongside AICC’s National Students’ Union in-charge, Kanhaiya Kumar, State Assembly’s Opposition Leader V D Satheesan, and KPCC’s interim president, M M Hassan.
Rahul’s electoral contender in the Wayanad LS constituency will be BJP state leader K Surendran and CPI luminary Annie Raja. His triumph in 2019 from the same constituency was marked by a colossal victory margin exceeding four lakh votes.
During the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Congress luminary Rahul Gandhi secured 7,06,367 votes out of a total of 10,92,197, with his closest competitor, CPI’s P P Suneer, garnering a mere 2,74,597 votes.
In the said elections, Rahul’s triumph in Wayanad was distinguished by a substantial margin exceeding 4.31 lakh votes, the most substantial in Kerala’s 2019 Lok Sabha polls. He clinched a vote share of 64.94%, besting LDF’s candidate PP Suneer. NDA’s BDJ(S) nominee, Tushar Vellapally, secured a meager 78,000 votes, constituting approximately 7.25%. UDF, led by Congress, clinched victory in 19 out of 20 seats during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
Among the victories, Congress claimed 15 seats, while its allies, Indian Union Muslim League, secured two, and the Revolutionary Socialist Party and Kerala Congress (M) each garnered one seat. The Communist Party Of India (Marxist) clinched one seat in Alappuzha.