Wayanad (Kerala), Nov 23 (UNI) AICC General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi-Vadra, who made her electoral debut from Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency, is leading with more than 68,917 votes at the initial stage of counting of votes on Saturday.
Wayanad will make a way for Priyanka Gandhi to enter Parliament for the first time as a Lok Sabha member.
The electoral victory of Priyanka Gandhi with a huge margin might boost Congress party's chances in 2026 Assembly polls in Kerala.
Priyanka Gandhi is contesting against CPI veteran Sathyan Mokeri contesting for LDF and BJP councillor Navya Haridas contesting for NDA, who are among the 16 total candidates in the fray for Wayanad.LS by poll.
The bypoll on November 13 was necessitated after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who had contested and won two seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, decided to retain Rae Bareli seat and vacate the Wayanad seat for his sister.
With her potential victory, three members of the Gandhi family -- Sonia (Rajya Sabha), Rahul and Priyanka, will be seen in Parliament together this time.
Meanwhile, United Democratic Front (UDF) candidate Rahul Mamkootathil was leading with 1,228 votes than the BJP-led NDA candidate C Krishnakumar, contesting from Palakkad Assembly by-poll, in the third round of the counting. CPI(M)-led LDF candidate P Sarin is in the third position.
In Chelakkara Assembly constituency, CPI(M)-led LDF candidate U R Pradeep was leading with more than 4,498 votes against Congress-led UDF candidate Ramya Haridas and BJP-led NDA candidate K Balakrishnan.
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