WAYANAD: NDA is planning to field actress Khushboo as the party's candidate for the by-election to the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency. It is learnt that the actress has also been included in the final list for the selection of candidates. The central leadership has sought its opinion from the state unit on the candidature of Khushboo. Priyanka Gandhi is set to replace Rahul Gandhi.

Khushbu had joined DMK on 14 May 2010 but quit four years later on 16 June 2014. On 26 November 2014, she joined Congress party after meeting with the then-party President Sonia Gandhi and then Vice-president Rahul Gandhi. She had served as the National Spokesperson of the INC. Khushboo had quit the Congress four years ago and joined the BJP ahead of the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections in 2021.

Khushboo is currently part of the BJP's Tamil Nadu unit. The actress is considered to be a nationally acclaimed opponent against Priyanka Gandhi. The final decision will depend on what the state unit has to say on the matter. The BJP is also actively considering the names of MT Ramesh, Sobha Surendran, A P Abdullakutty and Shaun George for Wayanad. Sathyan Mokeri is the LDF candidate in the constituency.

BJP state president K Surendran contested as a BJP candidate in Wayanad in the general elections contested by Rahul Gandhi. In 2019, BDJS had fielded Thushar Vellappally from the constituency. K Surendran had secured 1,41,045 votes from the constituency. NDA got only 78,816 votes from here in 2019. Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency comprises Mananthavady, Sulthan Bathery and Kalpetta constituencies in Wayanad district, Eranad, Nilambur and Vandoor constituencies in Malappuram district and Thiruvambady assembly constituencies in Kozhikode district.

Wayanad constituency's vote share in 2024 general elections

Rahul Gandhi (UDF) 6,47,445

Annie Raja (LDF) 2,83,023

K Surendran (NDA) 1,41,045

Majority 3,64,422