Meet Navya Haridas, the BJP candidate pitted against Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in the Wayanad bypolls

BJP candidate from Wayanad, Navya Haridas

The BJP announced on Saturday that Navya Haridas, a two-time councillor in the Kozhikode Corporation, will be the NDA candidate for the Wayanad Lok Sabha by-election.

Navya Haridas will be pitted against Congress’s Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and CPI’s Sathyan Mokeri, the Left candidate, in the high-profile constituency in the 13 November by-election.

Navya Haridas: A brief profile of the BJP candidate from Wayanad

Navya Haridas, a young woman leader in the BJP, was named as the party’s nominee for this crucial seat.

Navya Haridas is a software engineer by profession, Haridas serves as the parliamentary party leader for the BJP in the corporation.

BJP had earlier fielded Navya Haridas in the 2021 assembly elections. Navya contested the elections from Kozhikode South seat and was in the third position after the results were announced.

She is also the state general secretary of the Mahila Morcha, according to party sources.The by-election for Wayanad LS seat became necessary after Rahul Gandhi, who won the Lok Sabha polls from there and Rae Bareli constituency, decided to vacate it.

According to ADR, there is no criminal case registered against Navya Haridas.

Wayanad gears up for high pitch bypoll

With the Congress fielding the AICC general secretary from Wayanad, party workers put up posters in the constituency which had "Wayanadinte Priyankari (Wayanad's beloved)" written on it. If elected, this will be the first time that Priyanka Gandhi will enter Parliament as an MP. This will also be the first time that the three Gandhi family members -- Sonia, Rahul and Priyanka -- will be in Parliament together.

The bypoll to the Wayanad parliamentary seat and 47 Assembly seats will be held on November 13, along with the first phase of polling for the Jharkhand Assembly. Since her entry into active politics in 2019, Priyanka Gandhi has often been projected as a possible challenger to Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Varanasi and also, as a successor to Congress veteran Sonia Gandhi in the family pocket borough of Rae Bareli.

*With Agency Inputs