Wayanad, 23 November 2024 – Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, the Congress-led UDF candidate, extended her lead by over two lakh votes in the Wayanad Lok Sabha bypoll, as counting continued on Saturday, the Election Commission reported.
By 11:23 am, with three hours of counting completed, Priyanka secured 3,17,983 votes. CPI(M)-led LDF’s Sathyan Mokeri trailed with 1,08,810 votes, while BJP’s Navya Haridas was in third with 60,692 votes.
The vote count, which began at 8 am, started with postal ballots. Election officials opened the strong rooms, where the electronic voting machines (EVMs) were stored, more than an hour before the process commenced.
The bypoll, held on November 13, saw 16 candidates in the race, but the contest was primarily between Priyanka, making her electoral debut, Mokeri, a seasoned political figure, and Haridas, representing the BJP-led NDA.
This bypoll follows the vacancy created in the Wayanad seat, previously held by Priyanka’s brother, Rahul Gandhi.
