Lok Sabha election results 2024: Will Rahul choose Kerala seat over Rae Bareli

The Wayanad Lok Sabha seat where Rahul Gandhi won for the second time in a row comprises three assembly constituencies each in the tribal district of Wayanad and the Muslimdominated Malappuram as well as one in Kozhikode district where Christians hold a significant vote base reported news agency PTIGandhi romped him with a margin of over 364 lakh votes against his nearest rival Annie Raja of the CPI in the Lok Sabha election results 2024 With the Congress scion winning handsomely from Rae Bareli as well questions remain which constituency he will now forego although he has said he has not taken a decision on which seat he will represent in the Lok Sabha reported PTIAsked about which seat he would represent in Lok Sabha Gandhi said on Tuesday I have won from both the seats and I want to wholeheartedly thank the voters of Rae Bareli and Wayanad Now I have to decide which seat I will stay on will discuss and then decide Cant hold on to both the seats but I havent decided yetI am being asked whether I would remain the MP of Wayanad or Rae Bareli I want to remain MP for both Congratulations to all of you the former Congress president had said reported PTIThe Congressled UDF was always confident about the victory of their leader widely perceived to be the Prime Ministerial candidate of the INDIA bloc from their stronghold Wayanad in the polls held on April 26 ahead of Lok Sabha election results 2024The BJP and the Left who had fielded strong candidates to challenge Gandhi claim he will abandon Wayanad if he wins from Rae Bareli in Uttar Pradesh Interestingly there was no confirmation until the completion of the second phase of the election when Kerala voted for Lok Sabha polls about his plans to contest from another seat in the countrys northern region Senior CPI leader Annie Raja was the Left candidate from the constituency while the BJPs state chief K Surendran was tasked with taking on Gandhi and Raja both leaders of INDIA bloc partnersFamous for its lush green hills diverse cultural heritage and significant tribal population the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency has been a focal point of Indian politics since it gained national attention with Rahul Gandhis candidacy in 2019 The constituency carved out in 2008 during the delimitation process comprises seven assembly segments Kalpetta Sulthan Bathery and Mananthavady in Wayanad district Thiruvambady in Kozhikode and Nilambur Wandoor and Eranad in Malappuram each reflecting the diverse socioeconomic fabric of the region Agriculture the backbone of Wayanads economy faces numerous challenges including fluctuating market prices and crop failures reported PTIThe constituency is also grappling with issues related to tribal welfare environmental conservation and the need for robust infrastructure development While the UDF campaign focused on Rahul Gandhis work in the constituency highlighting his significant impact on Wayanad since his election in 2019 and his ability to bring a global perspective to local issues the BJP and the Left countered it alleging his long absence from the constituency and failure to address key issues affecting the people including the humananimal conflict reported PTIThe Congress however argued that Gandhi had championed several initiatives aimed at improving the lives of people particularly tribals and the poor in his constituency In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections Gandhi won the Wayanad seat with a significant margin of 431770 votes over his nearest rival P P Suneer of the CPIThe voter turnout in the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency during the 2019 elections was 8031 per cent This time 7357 per cent of the voters cast their ballot The fierce battle in the constituency saw BJP leader Surendran raking up an issue surrounding the name of Sulthan Bathery town associated with Tipu Sultan in the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency He suggested that the name should be changed as the place was originally known as Ganapathivattom before the Mysore rulers invasion of the Malabar region of Kerala two centuries ago reported PTIThe Congress mocked him saying Surendran can say anything Rahul Gandhis roadshow in Kalpetta on April 3 garnered national attention during the poll campaign It was visibly different from that of 2019 in the constituency when the green flags of Congress ally Indian Union Muslim League IUML outnumbered those of the Congress in the crowd This time the flags were conspicuous by their absence including those of the Congress reported PTIThe roadshow was attended by all major UDF partners including the IUML and their workers mostly displayed placards of Gandhis image and his election symbol the hand to add color to the campaign Party workers also carried balloons in various colours instead of flags At the height of the election campaign in 2019 senior BJP leader Amit Shah had criticised Gandhi for contesting from the constituency in Kerala remarking that during a procession in the area it was difficult to discern whether it was India or Pakistan alluding to the presence of IUMLs green flags during the Congress leaders roadshow a Congress source had saidThe source had added that the Congress might have chosen not to display flags during the event this time to avoid potential negative reactions from the BJP The CPIM had taken a dig at the Congress for not displaying its alliance partner Muslim Leagues green flags at the Gandhi roadshow alleging that the decision was made considering its repercussions in North IndiaWith inputs from PTI