In a closely contested race for the Lakshadweep Lok Sabha seat during the 2024 General Elections, Indian National Congress (INC) candidate Muhammed Hamdulla Sayeed emerged victorious. He defeated the incumbent Mohammed Faizal Padippura of the Nationalist Congress Party – Sharadchandra Pawar [NCP(SP)] by a margin of 2,647 votes
Election Overview
The 2024 Lakshadweep Lok Sabha Election was part of the first phase of the 18th Lok Sabha polls, held on April 19, 2024. Lakshadweep has a single Lok Sabha constituency, and the voter turnout for the election was a notable 84.16%. The total number of voters in the Union Territory was 57,594.
In the previous elections of 2014 and 2019, NCP(SP) had successfully retained the sole seat. However, the 2024 election saw a dynamic change in the political landscape with INC securing the seat.
Key Candidates and Parties
The major contenders in the 2024 election were:
- Muhammed Hamdulla Sayeed from INC, who won the seat. He is the son of P.M. Sayeed, Lakshadweep’s longest-serving MP.
- Mohammed Faizal Padippura from NCP(SP), the incumbent MP who contested the election in an attempt to retain the seat.
- T.P. Yousuf from the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), representing NCP (Ajit Pawar), was another significant contender.
Notably, NCP(SP) and INC are part of the INDIA alliance, which made the election an interesting internal contest within the alliance.
Electoral Context and Voter Demographics
Lakshadweep has a population of over 96% Muslim, which plays a pivotal role in shaping the election campaigns. Ramazan, which coincided with the election period, led to most campaigns taking place at night to accommodate the local customs.
In the lead-up to the elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a strategic visit to Lakshadweep, including a popular snorkeling activity, which was seen as part of his dual strategy to both garner votes and promote Lakshadweep as a tourism destination.
Election Results and Political Implications
With Muhammed Hamdulla Sayeed’s victory, INC now holds the Lakshadweep Lok Sabha seat. This marks a significant shift as NCP(SP), which had dominated the seat in the past two elections, loses its hold. The victory of Sayeed has broader implications for the INDIA alliance, highlighting its growing influence in regions where the BJP-led NDA has traditionally been strong.
