NEW DELHI: Priyanka Gandhi won the Wayanad by-election with over 6.12 lakh votes, defeating the Communist Party of India’s Sathyan Mokeri, who secured over 2.07 lakh votes. BJP’s Navya Haridas came in third with nearly 1.08 lakh votes.
Priyanka Gandhi thanked voters for their support, writing: “My dearest sisters and brothers of Wayanad, I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the trust you have placed in me. I will ensure that over time, you truly feel this victory has been your victory. The person you choose to represent you will understand your hopes and dreams and fight for you as one of your own. I look forward to being your voice in Parliament! Thank you for giving me this honour and, even more, for the immense love you have given me 
The by-election in Kerala’s Wayanad marks the electoral debut of Congress’ Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who contested from Wayanad, a seat previously held by her brother Rahul Gandhi. The election was necessitated after Rahul Gandhi won both Wayanad and Rae Bareli seats and decided to retain the latter.
Priyanka Gandhi also thanked her team for their hard work during the campaign: “My colleagues in the UDF, leaders from across Kerala, workers, volunteers, and my office colleagues who worked incredibly hard in this campaign, thank you for your support, for tolerating my 12-hour-a-day (no food, no rest) car journeys, and for fighting like true soldiers for the ideals we all believe in.”
Rahul Gandhi has been actively campaigning for his sister Priyanka. In one of the election rallies, he said, “If she likes you, she will do whatever it takes—beyond anything you can imagine. She is also going to like Wayanad a lot. You see, a huge part of being a good MP is that you like the people and place you work for. She is going to like it.”
Priyanka Gandhi secured a margin of over 4 lakh votes, breaking Rahul Gandhi’s record of 3.65 lakh votes in the 2024 elections, despite a decline in voter turnout.
She also expressed her gratitude to her family, saying: “To my mother, Robert, and my two jewels—Raihan and Miraya, no gratitude is ever enough for the love and courage you give me. And to my brother, Rahul, you are the bravest of them all… thank you for showing me the way and having my back, always!”
The voter turnout in the Wayanad by-election was around 65%, a decline from the 74% turnout in the April 2024 Lok Sabha elections and much lower than the over 80% turnout in the 2019 general elections.