As Kerala inches closer to the elections, the BJP and Congress conducted grand roadshows and public gatherings in Wayanad, marking the conclusion of their campaigns. On Wednesday, BJP’s Annamalai crossed the state border to lend support to candidate K Surendran in Wayanad. The roadshow witnessed a massive turnout of over a thousand enthusiastic supporters, donning saffron attires and carrying placards of Surendran and Prime Minister Modi. They chanted slogans, demonstrating their unwavering support for the BJP.
Meanwhile, Priyanka Gandhi, sister of Congress candidate Rahul Gandhi, addressed large crowds in Wayanad. Former youth congress president Samshad Marakkar remarked on the overwhelming response they received, with Priyanka addressing the gathering from her vehicle, while Jyothi Vijaykumar translated her speech into Malayalam. When asked about the BJP’s roadshow led by Annamalai on the same day, Samshad acknowledged the presence of Tamil communities in Wayanad. He suggested that Annamalai’s presence may potentially sway the Tamil-speaking communities residing in the constituency.
Jyothi, a freelance translator, has been associated with Rahul Gandhi since 2011 and has translated three speeches for Priyanka. She clarified that the speeches were impromptu and delivered in English, which she translated into Malayalam for the crowd. The initial two speeches lasted for over 30 minutes, including the translation, while the third one was shorter.
According to locals, Rahul Gandhi is expected to retain the Wayanad seat for a second consecutive term, though with a reduced margin compared to the previous election. They expressed their connection with Rahul Gandhi but acknowledged their lack of familiarity with CPI candidate Annie Raja. However, they cautioned Rahul Gandhi against taking the Wayanad constituency for granted and urged him to fulfill the promises he made during the 2019 elections. Locals highlighted the issue of the night travel ban from Karnataka, which has impacted the economic health of the constituency and affected traders and small-scale industries.
Jose, a local resident, emphasized that attending a political party’s roadshow or gathering does not necessarily translate into votes. He pointed out that locals may participate in such events due to obligations but may not necessarily vote for that party. He added that there is no way for parties to ascertain who voted for or against them.
Despite the concerns raised, locals expressed their support for Congress, citing their familiarity with the Gandhi family. However, they emphasized the need for Rahul Gandhi to address their issues and fulfill his commitments to the constituency.
