Silent campaign today in Chelakkara, Wayanad | Kerala News | General elections

Wayanad/Thrissur: Chelakkara and Wayanad will go to the polling booths tomorrow. Silent campaigning began in both constituencies on Tuesday ahead of the upcoming by-elections in Wayanad Lok Sabha and Chelakkara Assembly constituencies. Candidates and parties race to capture every vote. The first phase of voting of the Jharkhand Assembly election will also take place on Wednesday.

In Chelakkara, political expectations are high, driven by electoral figures. The constituency consists of nine panchayats: Kondazhi, Thiruvilwamala, Pazhayannur, Chelakkara, Panjal, Vallathol Nagar, Mullurkara, Varavoor and Desamangalam.

The Left Democratic Front (LDF) currently controls six panchayats, while the United Democratic Front (UDF) owns three. The UDF secured control of Thiruvilwamala with a draw as both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the UDF were evenly matched.

Former MLA UR Pradeep is contesting as CPM candidate in the constituency. The Congress will field former MP Ramya Haridas and the BJP will be represented by K. Balakrishnan.

In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the LDF led 110 of Chelakkara’s 177 polling booths, while the UDF led 64 and the NDA three. The LDF has won Chelakkara in the last six assembly elections, with a victory margin of 39,400 votes in 2021.

However, in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, K. Radhakrishnan’s lead in the Chelakkara constituency fell to 5,173 votes, giving renewed hope to the Congress.

Meanwhile, a pan-India contest will unfold in Wayanad with UDF candidate Priyanka Gandhi, LDF candidate Sathyan Mokeri and NDA candidate Navya Haridas vying for votes. From 7 a.m., 1.4 million voters will go to the polls here.

The Wayanad constituency has witnessed four weeks of intense campaigning, with national and state leaders, central ministers and chief ministers taking to the field. Campaign activities include roadshows, spirited debates and speeches aimed at influencing voters.

The constituency has 1,471,742 registered voters and 1,354 polling booths. In the previous elections, turnout was 72.69%, with current forecasts suggesting an increase.