In battle for Wayanad, BJP fields engineering graduate against Priyanka Gandhi
The Wayanad Lok Sabha bypoll in Kerala is all set to witness a triangular contest with the BJP on Saturday fielding Navya Haridas, a mechanical engineer, against Congress’ Priyanka Gandhi.
The CPI has already named veteran Sathyan Mokeri as the joint Left Democratic Front nominee in the high-profile seat where the byelection has been necessitated after Rahul Gandhi vacated Wayanad and retained Rae Bareli after winning both this year.
Navya completed her BTech in 2007 from KMCT Engineering College. The BJP also named candidates for 24 Assembly bypolls—six each in Bengal and Rajasthan; two each in MP, Kerala, Karnataka and Bihar; one in Raipur and three in Assam. The BJP is yet to name candidates for the bypolls to nine UP seats.
Former CM Bommai’s son fielded in Karnataka
The BJP today fielded former Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai’s son Bharath Bommai as its candidate for the Shiggaon Assembly bypoll, marking the entry of third generation of Bommais in politics.
His grandfather SR Bommai and father Basavaraj are both former Chief Ministers of the state. Basavaraj Bommai is now BJP MP from Haveri Lok Sabha segment. Karnataka will see three bypolls, with BJP contesting two — Shiggaon and Sandur (ST) — and the JD(S) is likely to contest from Chhanapatna, which former Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy vacated after winning the Lok Sabha elections.
Shiggaon was vacated by Basavaraj Bommai and Sandur by E Tukaram. All three won the parliamentary poll.
About Navya Haridas
- Navya (39) is a 2-time councillor in Kozhikode Corporation & BJP leader in the civic body
- Is also general secretary of the BJP Mahila Morcha in Kerala
- Unsuccessfully contested the 2021 Assembly poll on BJP ticket from Kozhikode-South against a Congress candidate
