Veteran CPI leader Sathyan Mokeri, who is the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) candidate for the Wayanad Lok Sabha by-election, believes that the Congress cannot take the seat for granted .
“Indira Gandhi, who was a Prime Minister, faced electoral defeat. Rahul Gandhi was defeated in Amethi. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will also be defeated because the Congress has betrayed people. The Gandhis have betrayed the people of Wayanad," Mokeri told News18.
Rahul Gandhi’s decision to retain his Raebareli seat in Uttar Pradesh and give up Wayanad, which he also won in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, forced the bypoll in this seat. Gandhi defeated CPI’s Annie Raja by 3,64,422 votes.
But Mokeri feels he has a chance. Armed with decades of political experience and having served as an MLA thrice, Mokeri said that his political body of work proves that he will stand with the people of Wayanad, unlike Gandhi, who is not seen in the constituency after the elections.
Mokeri had represented the Nadapuram constituency in the Assembly elections (1987 to 2001) for three terms and was also a state committee member and vice-president of the All India Kisan Sabha.
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala | Wayanad by-polls | LDF candidate Sathyan Mokeri says, " I accept the decision taken by my party…even Indira Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi have lost elections so even Priyanka Gandhi can also lose…LDF stands with people. Even during the Wayanad tragedy,… pic.twitter.com/2fIsoupua6— ANI (@ANI) October 17, 2024
VISION FOR WAYANAD
He outlines how Wayanad is a backward area where the people are largely farmers, tribals and plantation workers.
“We have marginalised people here who have not seen much development. I contested from Wayanad in 2014. I lost by just 20,000 votes. The LDF is raising the issue of development. The Congress candidates who have won from here have done nothing," said Mokeri.
As part of his campaign pitch, the Left candidate speaks of the development brought in by the LDF government in Kerala and how they will replicate the same in Wayanad. Another important part of their pitch is that the Gandhis have betrayed the people of Wayanad.
“Gandhi has represented this area, but has not done anything. People trusted them, but they were betrayed. Gandhi claimed when he was campaigning that he had made mistakes and he would like to seek people’s forgiveness. Now what has happened? When he won two seats, what was the first thing he did? He chose Raebareli. This is something that the people of Wayanad will never forgive the Gandhis for," said the candidate.
The LDF candidate, while appealing to people, also spoke of how the Congress has taken the seat for granted and pitched Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. “The truth is that she will not see victory as the people have now seen the true colours of the Gandhis," he told News18.
Mokeri said Wayanad has suffered for decades due to wild animal attacks. Gandhi, who has been elected for two terms, has not done anything to address this issue. Mokeri is also raising the issue of the recent Wayanad floods and landslides that caused a massive loss of lives and property in the region.
“Even the BJP at the Centre did not give people any relief. When similar incidents happened in Andhra Pradesh and Bihar, the BJP at the Centre gave huge compensation. What about the people of Wayanad? Aren’t they entitled to such things? People know how I work, and they believe in me. They know I can bring about that change, and that is why my win is certain," said a confident Mokeri.
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