Wayanad district looks like a UDF stronghold as Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra contested here in 2019 and 2024. But local election data tells a different story. The Congress-led UDF controls 16 of 23 grama panchayats and two municipalities. LDF held the Mananthavady municipality until 2020 and remains strong in Sulthan Bathery and parts of Kalpetta. Both fronts share control in block and district panchayats equally. Wayanad’s three Assembly seats mostly go to Congress, except Mananthavady held by LDF. Internal conflicts hit the UDF with rebel candidates like Binu Jacob challenging Congress's Samshad Marakkar in Puthuppady. The Congress also faces criticism after the suicides of leaders N.M. Vijayan and Jose Nelledam and corruption claims in cooperative societies. Meanwhile, LDF shows signs of strain as CPI(M) and CPI candidates compete against each other in Thirunelly. Landslide rehabilitation is the key election topic. Both UDF and LDF are accused during campaigns. The LDF is criticized over the Brahmagiri Cooperative Society crisis and poor disaster relief efforts. With these local problems and the fierce fight between fronts, Wayanad’s political landscape remains complex and closely fought.