As poll fever catches on, Kerala’s Wayanad constituency has got itself an election mascot — a dragonfly. The species Epithemis Wayanadensis or the Red-rumped Hawklet, discovered from the region, will be driving voters to polling booths.
Named Sweetey after the title of the initiative, “Spreading Wayanad’s Election Enthusiasm through Epithemis Wayanadensis,” the dragonfly was chosen by the Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation Programme (SVEEP).
Initiated and conceptualised by Renu Raj, IAS, the district collector of Wayanad and her team, Sweetey aims not only to encourage voter participation but also to showcase the rich biodiversity of Wayanad. The larger goal is to integrate natural conservation efforts into electoral discussions.
