The Election Commission of India has announced the bypoll dates for three key constituencies in Kerala—Wayanad Lok Sabha seat and the Palakkad and Chelakkara assembly seats. Voting will take place on November 13, and the counting of votes will be conducted on November 23.
The by-elections became necessary after the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat was vacated by Rahul Gandhi, and both the Palakkad and Chelakkara assembly seats were vacated when their MLAs, Shafi Parambil and K. Radhakrishnan, respectively, won the Lok Sabha elections.
Congress is expected to field Priyanka Gandhi for Wayanad, while Youth Congress leader Rahul Mangoottil is being considered for Palakkad. For Chelakkara, Congress is likely to nominate Ramya Haridas.
Meanwhile, the Congress has requested a postponement of the Palakkad by-election due to the Kalpathi Ratholsavam festival, which coincides with the polling dates. They are set to approach the Election Commission to reconsider the date for this reason.
