Wayanad Parliament Seat Bypoll To Be Held On November 13: Election Commission

Kerala Byelection: Bypolls on Wayanad Parliament seat will take place on November 13, the Election Commission of India announced on Tuesday. The counting of votes is scheduled for November 23.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi won the election in Wayanad Parliamentary seat in 2024 general elections against Communist Party of India (CPI) Annie Raja. Rahul secured a total of 647,445 votes while Annie Raja was able to bag only 283,023 votes.

However, Rahul Gandhi who contested Lok Sabha elections on two seats namely Raebareli and Wayanad, and won his contests, decided to retain Raebareli. Since, Wayanad became vacant after the Congress scion decided to go with Raebareli, it will now undergo the byelection.

Priyanka Gandhi's electoral debut from Wayanad seat

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra , sister of Rahul Gandhi , will contest her first election from Wayanad Parliamentary seat.

With the Election Commission (EC) announcing the bypoll to the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat, the stage is set for Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra 's electoral debut that could see her enter Parliament five years after joining active politics.

Soon after the EC announced the Wayanad bypoll, the Congress declared that Priyanka Gandhi (52) would be its candidate from the seat in Kerala .

With the Congress fielding the AICC general secretary from Wayanad, party workers put up posters in the constituency which had "Wayanadinte Priyankari (Wayanad's beloved)" written on it.

Days after the Lok Sabha polls, the Congress had announced in June itself that Rahul Gandhi will retain the Rae Bareli parliamentary constituency in Uttar Pradesh and vacate the Wayanad seat in Kerala , from where his sister Priyanka Gandhi will make her electoral debut.

If elected, this will be the first time that Priyanka Gandhi will enter Parliament as an MP. This will also be the first time that the three Gandhi family members -- Sonia, Rahul and Priyanka -- will be in Parliament together.

Maharashtra and Jharkhand Assembly election dates announced

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday announced the polling schedule for Maharashtra and Jharkhand Assembly elections 2024. Counting in Maharashtra will take place on November 20, Jharkhand in two phases on November 13 and 20. Counting of votes is scheduled for November 23. 

With inputs from PTI