Wayanad By-Elections: In a significant move, the Communist Party of India (CPI) has announced Sathyan Mokeri as the Left Democratic Front (LDF) candidate for the upcoming Wayanad Lok Sabha by-election. The decision, made official by CPI state secretary Binoy Viswam. Though allies in I.N.D.I.A bloc, CPI pits Mokeri against Congress heavyweight Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, marking a high-stakes contest in the Wayanad constituency.
The by-election follows Rahul Gandhi's decision to vacate the Wayanad seat after winning from both Wayanad and Rae Bareli in the previous general elections. Rahul opted to retain Rae Bareli and stepped down from his Kerala seat prompting the Election Commission to schedule a bypoll on November 13. While the BJP has yet to announce its candidate, the focus is already on the clash between Mokeri and Priyanka Gandhi.
Who is Sathyan Mokeri?
Sathyan Mokeri is a veteran leader of the CPI and a former MLA from the Nadapuram constituency in Kozhikode district. Well-regarded for his advocacy on agricultural issues, Mokeri previously contested the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat in 2014, as per India Today. Although he lost to Congress's M I Shanavas, Mokeri significantly reduced the Congress victory margin by 20,000, a notable achievement in the heavily contested constituency.
Mokeri represented Nadapuram in the Kerala Legislative Assembly from 1987 to 2001. In 2015, he was elected Assistant Secretary of the CPI Kerala State Committee, cementing his standing within the party.
At the announcement, Viswam emphasized Mokeri's deep connection to the farming community, highlighting that his candidacy comes at a crucial time when farmers' protests are dominating national discourse, reported PTI. Mokeri’s campaign is set to kick off on Friday, and the LDF hopes his longstanding experience and commitment to agrarian issues will resonate with Wayanad's voters.
With Priyanka Gandhi bringing national attention to the bypoll, the stage is set for a closely watched battle in one of Kerala's most high-profile constituencies.