On February 28, 2024, political circles in New Delhi were abuzz with discussions regarding the upcoming elections, particularly focusing on the political strategies of the Congress Party and the Communist Party of India (CPI) concerning the constituency of Wayanad. The announcement of CPI leader Annie Raja entering the race raised questions about Congress’s connection with the anti-BJP front, given that their prime candidate Rahul Gandhi may also contest from the same constituency, signaling potential conflict within the opposition’s campaign efforts.
Brinda Karat of CPI(M) sparked a conversation on the tactics of Congress running against a CPI candidate in a seat like Wayanad in the light of their unified anti-BJP stance. Meanwhile, Congress spokesperson Shashi Tharoor pointed out a seeming double standard, querying why the Left parties challenge Congress in areas with strong BJP presence, such as his own constituency in Thiruvananthapuram. Tharoor highlighted the complex state-specific nature of alliances as a rationale for varied political maneuvers, indicating a lack of consistency in Left-Congress cooperation. Other parties within the opposition INDIA alliance maintained silence on the subject.
The selection of Wayanad by Rahul Gandhi in the previous 2019 election proved advantageous for the Congress in Kerala, bolstering their victory margins significantly. Speculation about Gandhi’s choice of electoral battleground continues, fueled by invites from Karnataka and Telangana Congress leaders, urging him to represent their states. Amidst this strategic conundrum, the Left and Congress, though united under the INDIA bloc banner, foresee challenges reconciling their partnership in Kerala, where their political rivalry is deeply entrenched. CPI state secretary Binoy Viswam hinted at the implications of Gandhi’s decision for the Congress’s political standing, stressing the significance of identifying the prime adversary in the BJP. The anticipation grows as Congress leader VD Satheesan expresses Kerala’s desire to see Gandhi re-contest from Wayanad, marking the region as a focal point of electoral intrigue for strategists and spectators alike.