The stage is set for a fierce three-cornered contest in the upcoming Wayanad by-election, as candidates from the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) filed their nominations on Thursday. The filing came a day after Congress candidate Priyanka Gandhi’s nomination, marking her formal entry into the fray with a grand roadshow in Wayanad.
LDF's candidate, Satyan Mokeri, submitted his nomination papers, aiming to consolidate the Left’s support in this critical bypoll.
On the other hand, Navya Haridas, the BJP's candidate, also filed her nomination, accompanied by senior state and national BJP leaders. Navya expressed her excitement and gratitude to the party for the opportunity to contest and emphasised the need for change in Wayanad’s political landscape.
Speaking to the media, Navya Haridas said, “I’m so excited and happy that the party has offered me this wonderful opportunity. We started election work a few days ago, and I believe people are ready for a change in politics. I am confident that under the leadership of the central government and PM Narendra Modi, we can bring the necessary changes in Wayanad.”
The bypoll, which is scheduled for November 13, has drawn intense attention due to the participation of high-profile leaders. Priyanka Gandhi’s nomination for Congress has set a high-stakes challenge, while LDF’s Satyan Mokeri and BJP’s Navya Haridas are positioning themselves to appeal to the region’s voters with promises of change and development.
The byelection in Wayanad was necessitated after Congress Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi decided to retain Rae Bareli seat after wining from both Wayanad and Rae Bareli in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections 2024.