Kerala: BJP candidate Navya Haridas accuses Congress of attempting to woo Wayanad voters with incentives

Wayanad: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate for the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency, Navya Haridas on Wednesday took a swipe at the Congress party accusing it of using various tactics to sway voters.
After visiting the Sree Ayyappa Mahakshethram temple this morning Haridas spoke with ANI about her campaign, expressing strong confidence that she will win the ongoing by-election against Congress candidate Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.
"People of Wayanad need a person who can work with them at the grassroots level and who can address their issues in Parliament and find solutions. Congress is trying to influence voters this time by providing kits, money, liquor--everything. Because there is a fear factor for Congress that they are going to lose this election," said Haridas.
She mentioned her positive experiences with voters, claiming that local support for the BJP has grown stronger. "Today, after visiting the temple, we are going to visit polling stations as well. We are fully confident in winning the by-election because that's the response we are getting from the public," she stated, adding that recent public gatherings had "huge support from the public this time, very different from before."
Haridas also criticized Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who previously held the Wayanad seat, for allegedly failing to address key issues in Parliament. She claimed that the same would happen if Priyanka Gandhi Vadra represented the area in the future. "They have never been involved with the people of Wayanad to seek their real requirements or address these needs in Parliament," Haridas told ANI.
Further, she raised concerns over the Waqf Board issue, saying it is causing anxiety among families in the region, who fear they may lose their properties due to recent notifications. "This should never happen. The central ministry is always with them, and we have extended our support to them," she assured.
Additionally, Haridas spoke about a long-standing demand to lift the night traffic ban in Karnataka's Bandipur Tiger Reserve, criticizing Congress's approach to the matter. "Rahul Gandhi has never given any intervention in this matter... Just giving words to the people and not sticking to their promises," she said.
The NH 766 stretch falls on the border between Karnataka and Kerala and a nighttime traffic ban was imposed in the interest of wildlife conservation. The Supreme Court of India in 2019 upheld a 2009 ban imposed by Karnataka on nighttime traffic along a 24.7-km stretch of a national highway in the Bandipur Tiger Reserve.
Karnataka state congress chief and Deputy chief minister of the state DK Shivakumar during a poll rally in Wayanad on November 9 stated that UDF candidate from Wayanad for the Lok Sabha bypoll was keen to discuss the issue of the night traffic ban in Bandipur with Karnataka authorities.
The by-election in Wayanad is part of a larger voting process across 31 assembly seats in 10 states. Wayanad's contest includes Priyanka Gandhi Vadra from Congress, Navya Haridas from BJP, and Sathyan Mokeri from the Left alliance.