Wayanad bypoll: Priyanka Gandhi’s 5-lakh victory target faces test after low voter turnout Premium

Congress leaders await results of Wayanad bypoll with uncertainty over Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's victory margin.

After the low voter turnout in the Wayanad Lok Sabha bypoll on Wednesday (November 13, 2024), Congress leaders are keeping their fingers crossed about the outcome, especially when they have targeted to secure a victory margin of over 5 lakh votes for Congress candidate Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in the seat vacated by her brother and Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, five months ago to retain his second constituency, Rae Bareli.

The voter turnout dropped to 64.72%, a 9.15 percentage point decrease from the previous election. This marks the lowest turnout in the constituency since its formation in 2009. In the 2019 election, when Mr. Gandhi contested, the constituency saw a higher turnout of 80.37% and his victory margin was 4.31 lakh votes. 

Although Congress leaders are confident of Ms. Vadra romping home in her maiden electoral battle, they are uncertain of her surpassing Mr. Rahul’s victory margin of 3.64 lakh in the April 2024 General Elections.

Campaign managers of the coalition did not expect the huge dip in the voting percentage despite the electioneering blitzkrieg led by national and State Congress leaders. A phalanx of stars, including Mr. Gandhi, AICC general secretaries K.C. Venugopal and Deepa Dasmunshi and Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, campaigned for Ms. Vadra.

Her mother Sonia Gandhi, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy too turned up when she submitted her nomination papers. She also actively engaged with the voters in the constituency through street corner meetings and led a massive roadshow in Kalpetta.

Now, Congress leaders have moderated the projected victory margin to 4 lakh votes, even while acknowledging that they would introspect over the voter apathy in the bypoll. If Ms. Vadra’s victory margin is less than 3 lakh, it would be an embarrassment for the party, sources said.

While the CPI fielded old warhorse Sathyan Mokeri, the BJP chose Navya Haridas, a novice to parliamentary politics.