Will Priyanka Gandhi widen victory margin Rahul Gandhi achieved in last two elections in Kerala?
Reportedly congress general secretary priyanka gandhi Vadra, in her maiden electoral contest in Kerala’s wayanad Lok Sabha bypoll on Wednesday, data-faces a key test not only to hold onto the party’s stronghold but also to widen the victory margin her brother, rahul Gandhi, achieved in the last two elections. During the nearly month long, high voltage campaign, priyanka has relied heavily on her brother’s tenure as wayanad MP and his popularity in the constituency to boost her prospects, frequently highlighting the “love and affection" he has for the people of wayanad and how they supported him during challenging times.Perhaps her rivals, LDF’s sathyan Mokeri and NDA’s Navya Haridas, are hoping that Priyanka’s lack of electoral experience will discourage voters from choosing her. Mokeri has a history of contesting from the wayanad LS seat in 2014 and reducing the victory margin of then UDF candidate to 20,000. priyanka has answered the LDF and BJP’s statements questioning her experience by pointing out that she has been active in politics for 35 years, since 1989, when she campaigned for her father, Rajiv Gandhi. She also said that she would keep coming to wayanad if she wins from here, till the people tell her not to come there so frequently.Moreover the congress leader further contended that she was a “fighter" and would fight for the interests of the people of wayanad on every platform. Polling will be conducted in over 1,000 booths across the constituency and special security arrangements have been made at the places where there was a Maoist presence or which are considered to be trouble-prone. Several companies of the Central Reserve police Force (CRPF) and the Armed police Battalion have been deployed for election duties in the seven assembly segments, according to details shared by the respective district administrations.