Rahul won Wayanad in 2019 by 4,31,770 votes, his first victory after losing Amethi, and again in 2024 by 3,64,422 votes despite BJP fielding state chief K Surendran and CPI fielding Annie Raja. His Bharat Jodo Yatra entry into Wayanad in 2022 drew massive crowds that locals still talk about in markets and bus stands daily.

But ground reality shifted after June 2024. Contesting Rae Bareli and Wayanad both, Rahul kept Rae Bareli and vacated Wayanad seat. Sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra won November 2024 bypoll by 4,10,931 votes, retaining family bastion. Locals expected Rahul's promise of Wayanad having two MPs would mean regular visits and double attention for development works.

In Sulthan Bathery, tribal farmer Rajan says, Rahul's office helped with medical college issue, night travel ban on NH 766, and human-wildlife conflict representations in Parliament effectively. Yet after July 2024 landslide that killed 420 people in Mundakkai-Chooralmala, criticism grew sharply. BJP's Sudhanshu Trivedi alleged both Gandhi siblings were missing during crisis. Some victims told media they voted Congress hoping MP would visit relief camps personally.

UDF workers say popularity intact because Indian Union Muslim League, Congress, and tribal groups form solid 50 percent base. BJP vote rose to 13 percent in 2024, but Gandhi charisma outweighs ideology here still. Priyanka now holds fort, Rahul visits occasionally for party programmes quietly and briefly.

Wayanad likes Rahul, feels emotional connect and gratitude for national spotlight, but distance after 2024 has dented trust. His name still wins votes easily, but absence is noticed painfully in hills today across constituency now.