Wayanad: In the by-election to be held on Wayanad Lok Sabha seat in Kerala, Left Democratic Front (LDF) candidate Satyan Mokeri targeted his rival and Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and asked whether she would be present in the constituency after winning from here.
The Communist Party of India (CPI) had announced the candidature of senior party leader Mokeri two days ago. He contested from Wayanad in 2014, however he lost to the then Congress candidate MI Shanavas by a very narrow margin of votes.
Mokeri, during his election campaign in Wayanad, asked whether there was any guarantee that Priyanka Gandhi would remain in this hilly district after victory. He said, “Look at Rahul Gandhi, he won and then went away. How many days did he stay here? Those who come to contest elections like this and then go away can neither develop the people of the area nor solve other problems.
Mokeri said the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) has no answer as to why they are contesting elections here, where democratic and leftist forces are strong while the fascist group is weak.
Congress has fielded Priyanka Gandhi as its candidate from Wayanad and she has not yet started her election campaign. Mokeri, a former MLA from Nadapuram constituency in Kozhikode district, is known for his work on agriculture sector issues.
In the Lok Sabha elections held in the country this year, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had contested from Rae Bareli and Wayanad seats and after winning from Rae Bareli, he had decided to leave the Wayanad seat, hence it has become necessary to hold by-elections on this parliamentary constituency. The Election Commission has decided to hold by-elections on Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency on November 13.