Kerala’s Wayanad has shot to limelight with Rahul Gandhi choosing the tribal-dominated constituency, but forest dwellers here remain oblivious to heated political discussions over the Congress chief’s move to go down south, saying food, shelter and fighting elephant attacks are issues of priority for them.

“We don’t have shelters or good habitation. There are no roads, no proper drinking water. We do not have much hope in them,” said a tribal man living in the forests of Wayanad.

According to a tribal woman, the main issue is fighting elephant attacks.“We face problems due to attacks by elephants at our homes inside the forest. We won’t cast vote this time. There is no use of participating in elections,” she said.

Tribals constitute around 18 per cent population of the Wayanad district. The Lok Sabha seat has two Assembly segments–Sultan Bathery and Mananthavadi–which are reserved for them.

The Sulthan Bathery-based doctor said issues like malnutrition were still prevalent among the tribals in the area.The staple food of the tribals are meat and fruits, but the government, through various programmes, distributes items like milk powder and rice, forcing them to change their food habits.

“They cannot survive merely on such food items. They have no use of milk powder or rice. Malnutrition is highest among them,” he said.He urged party leaders prepping for the elections in Wayanad to first learn their dialects as he feels that is the only way to understand and address their basic problems.“Please don’t see them as vote banks,” he said.