Wayanad Byelections: Strong Voter Turnout and Brisk Polling Amid Tight Security

Polling in the Wayanad Lok Sabha and Chelakkara Assembly constituencies in Kerala is proceeding at a strong pace on November 13, with a turnout of 34.38 percent in Wayanad and 36.08 percent in Chelakkara after the first five hours. The election process is being carried out under tight security and has been largely incident-free, with only a few reports of electronic voting machine (EVM) breakdowns at certain polling booths, which were quickly resolved by election officials.

In Wayanad, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is facing her first electoral challenge as she campaigns to retain the seat once held by her brother, Rahul Gandhi. Her aim is not only to hold the seat but also to increase the winning margin from the previous elections. Voting began at 7 AM at over 1,000 polling stations in Wayanad, and the results are expected to be announced on November 23.

Wayanad has a total of more than 14 lakh registered voters and 1,354 polling stations spread across the hilly region. To ensure smooth voting, more than 2,500 security personnel have been deployed, and the election process is being closely monitored with live webcasting.

The constituency consists of seven assembly segments: Mananthavady (ST), Sulthan Bathery (ST), and Kalpetta in Wayanad district; Thiruvambady in Kozhikode district; and Eranad, Nilambur, and Wandoor in Malappuram district.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is competing against BJP's Navya Haridas and the CPI(M)-led LDF's Sathyan Mokeri in this high-profile by-election.

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