The electoral mathematics of Wayanad makes it a secure seat for Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. Perhaps this is the reason why in this time's Lok Sabha elections he left Amethi and expressed confidence in Wayanad. But CPI, which is part of the India alliance, has created obstacles in Rahul's path to reach Parliament by fielding a strong candidate against him. Not only this, BJP has also fielded a strong candidate for Wayanad. Annie Raja, wife of CPI general secretary D Raja, is a candidate from Wayanad and is a member of the CPI National Executive Committee. So BJP's candidate for state president is K Surendran. It is clear that both the parties are considering Wayanad as if they have to win the seat. Otherwise, usually against strong candidates, opposition parties field such candidates who are only in name. In Wayanad, Rahul Gandhi's competition is not only with strong candidates. CPI has surrounded him on many fronts. This is why Wayanad is also finding it difficult for Rahul Gandhi this time.
1-Strong candidate of CPI
It was generally understood that CPI would field a light candidate from Wayanad due to its inclusion in the India Alliance. But the way CPI has given ticket from Wayanad to a senior leader like Annie Raja, it seemed that this time the party is in a mood to win Wayanad. Vijayan, the Chief Minister of the state and one of the biggest leaders of CPI, is continuously visiting Wayanad. Not only this, he is also continuously attacking Rahul Gandhi and Congress on many issues.
Party leader Annie Raja, wife of CPI general secretary D Raja, is currently the general secretary of the National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW). According to a report in Indian Express, Annie Raja is a resident of Iritty in Kannur and was born in a Christian family with a leftist background.
Annie Raja had joined the CPI All India Student Federation as a member during her school days. Then she joined All India Youth Federation at the age of 22.
2-Left is making Rahul's silence on CAA an issue
It is impossible to win Wayanad without the support of the Muslim community. Perhaps this is the reason why CM Vijayan of the left government of Kerala is continuously targeting CAA. The Left government of Kerala has moved the Supreme Court to challenge the CAA law. Not only this, CPI also held a rally in Kozhikode on 22 March under the banner of Constitution Protection Committee. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is addressing such rallies frequently. Not only this, the Kerala government has gone one step further and decided to withdraw all the cases registered in connection with the 2019 CAA protests. Obviously, CPI(M) is preparing to make big gains by making CAA an issue in the Lok Sabha elections.
Interestingly, the protests against CAA are directly impacting the Congress and not the BJP. This is why Congress is stuck in a dilemma. Because till now the title of Hindu party among the leftists in Kerala has been in the name of Congress. Congress fears that associating with the Left against CAA may dent its Hindu vote bank in the state. Congress also fears that by not taking a strong stand against CAA like the Left, Muslim voters will lean towards CPI(M).
Taking aim at Rahul and Congress, Vijayan says in Wayanad that when the Citizenship Amendment Bill was discussed in Parliament five years ago, the only loud voice of dissent from Kerala was from LDF. Did Rahul say anything? Vijayan raises the question that what is the difference in the stand of Congress and BJP in this regard?
Vijayan is a constant attacker on Congress regarding CAA. They say that the Kerala Assembly passes an anti-CAA resolution a few weeks after the bill gets Parliament's approval. Did the Congress say this while ruling states like Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan? Vijayan asks why Rahul Gandhi remained silent on CAA in Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra?
3-Communist Party surrounded Rahul for not seeing Muslim League flags.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi took out a rally during nomination in Wayanad on Wednesday. Indian Union Muslim League flags were not visible from his rally. Regarding this, both Left and Right have targeted Congress. IUML is a major part of the Congress-led UDF alliance in Kerala.
Flags of Congress and its ally IUML remained missing during Rahul Gandhi's road show. However, even Congress flags were not seen in the road show. Instead of political parties, Rahul Gandhi's road show was filled with Indian flags and tricolor balloons.
The Left has made it an issue. Bharatiya Janata Party has also criticized Congress for this. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday said the Congress does not have the courage to display Muslim League flags in public. Vijayan said that Congress has stooped to such a level that it is afraid of communal forces. He said that Congress's stand on the flag issue shows that it wants IUML's votes but will not accept their flag.
BJP's Smriti Irani said that Muslim League flags were hidden in the Congress party rally. This shows that either Rahul Gandhi is ashamed of getting support from the Muslim League or he will not be able to hide his association with the Muslim League when he visits temples in North India.
4-Danger of division of Hindu votes
In fact, until BJP was not strong in Kerala, Congress kept getting Hindu votes. In this Lok Sabha elections, CPI has from the very beginning presented Congress as anti-Muslim in Kerala. This was the reason why CPI made CAA and Muslim League flag an issue. The problem for Rahul Gandhi is that this time BJP has fielded a very strong candidate. Surendran has contested elections several times in Kerala. Last time he was deprived of becoming MLA by just a few votes. If Hindu votes get divided and Muslim votes go with CPI, then Wayanad will also be lost from Rahul's hands.
5- In whose favor is caste mathematics?
In Wayanad, both Hindus and Muslims are around 40 to 45 percent. According to India State Election data, there are 40 percent Muslim voters in Wayanad Lok Sabha seat. At the same time, there are 40 percent Hindu voters on the seat. 20 percent voters are from Christian community. The number of SC and ST voters in this seat is 7 percent and 9.3 percent respectively. Annie Raja is a Christian. If CPI succeeds in bringing Muslims along with it, then Rahul Gandhi's magic will not work here. Because Christian and Muslim votes together amount to 60 to 65 percent.
