Rahul Gandhi wins Wayanad seat with record-breaking victory margin

Congress President Rahul Gandhi has won the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency with a record-breaking margin defeating his nearest rival CPI's P P Suneer.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi. PTI Photo

NEW DELHI: Congress President Rahul Gandhi has won the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency with a record-breaking margin defeating his nearest rival CPI's P P Suneer. Gandhi was polled 12,76,945 votes while Sunner secured 4,77,783 votes. As counting progressed, Gandhi established a lead of over three lakh votes, probably the biggest margin in the Lok Sabha elections in the State. Local leaders assembled at the DCC office and burst crackers in anticipation of the big win and shouted slogans congratulating the congress chief. Gandhi is contesting a second seat from the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency nestled in the Western Ghats, besides his traditional bastion of Amethi. The Congress chief is lagging behind BJP's Smriti Irani in Amethi, according to the Election Commission. As  Gandhi crossed a record-breaking margin, Congress workers took out a procession from the DCC Office Rajiv Bhavan to SKMJ High Schoolthe counting Centre. A few of them marched to Kalpetta town holding Congress flag. A separate group of workers of Indian Union Muslim League were seen traveling on two-wheelers waving their green flags. Congress workers said they were happy that they could ensure a resounding victory for Gandhi but expressed disappointment over the dismal show of the party in other parts of the country. "You are seeing a Rahul wave across Kerala," AICC member and former Kerala minister P K Jayalakshmisaid as the counting progressed. Congress-led UDF is leading in most of the 20 constituencies in the State.