The Gandhi family’s political legacy takes center stage as Priyanka Gandhi Vadra aims for her first seat in Parliament.
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has officially entered the race for the Wayanad Lok Sabha bypolls. On October 23, she filed her nomination after a grand roadshow, accompanied by her mother Sonia Gandhi, and brother Rahul Gandhi. If elected, this will mark the first time all three members of the Gandhi family will serve in Parliament together, a momentous milestone for Indian politics.
Priyanka, who is the Congress general secretary, filed her nomination papers for the Wayanad Lok Sabha by-polls on Wednesday, October 23. This special election is being held to fill the seat vacated by her brother, Rahul Gandhi. The poll will take place on November 13, 2024, in Kerala’s Wayanad district, and Priyanka is poised to bring another chapter to the Gandhi family’s storied political history.
The filing was a significant event, with Priyanka flanked by her mother Sonia Gandhi, brother Rahul Gandhi—who is the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha—and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge. Before submitting her nomination, Priyanka led a roadshow alongside key party leaders, which concluded at the district collectorate in Kalpetta, Wayanad. The event was marked by speeches from Priyanka, Rahul, and Kharge, who rallied their supporters and emphasized the importance of this election.
A New Chapter for the Gandhi Family
If Priyanka Gandhi Vadra wins the election, she will make her debut as a Member of Parliament. This will be the first time in history that Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka will all be seated in Parliament together. Currently, Rahul serves as a Lok Sabha MP, while Sonia holds a seat in the Rajya Sabha. The potential unity of the Gandhi family in Parliament is symbolic for the Congress party, which sees the trio as a powerful force for the future of Indian politics.
Rahul Gandhi had previously won the Wayanad seat during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, along with the Raebareli seat in Uttar Pradesh. He secured the Wayanad seat with a massive margin of 3,64,422 votes and Raebareli with 3.9 lakh votes. However, shortly after the election results were announced on June 4, the Congress party decided that Rahul would retain the Raebareli seat, making way for his sister Priyanka to contest from Wayanad.
The Bypoll Battle
The bypoll for the Wayanad seat, along with 47 Assembly seats, will be conducted on November 13, in parallel with the first phase of polling for the Jharkhand Assembly. The results will be declared on November 23, 2024. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will be up against tough competition. The BJP has fielded Navya Haridas to contest the seat, while the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) has put forward Communist Party of India (CPI) veteran Sathyan Mokeri as their candidate.
Priyanka’s Political Journey
Since formally stepping into active politics in 2019, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has emerged as a key player within the Congress party. Many have speculated that she could challenge Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Varanasi or even succeed Sonia Gandhi in Raebareli, a family stronghold. Although her first major assignment as the Congress in-charge for Uttar Pradesh during the 2020 Assembly elections did not yield favorable results, Priyanka has since carved out a reputation as a skilled strategist and a star campaigner.
In recent years, her influence has been felt across various states, where she has helped the Congress party make significant gains. If she secures the Wayanad seat, it could solidify her role as a pivotal figure in the party’s future, and possibly, in India’s national political landscape.
The Wayanad bypoll is not just another election—it holds the potential to reshape the political landscape for the Congress party and the Gandhi family. As Priyanka Gandhi Vadra steps into the electoral ring, all eyes will be on Wayanad, awaiting the results of this historic contest. With the BJP and LDF fielding strong candidates, the race promises to be closely fought. For fitness enthusiasts and political followers alike, this is a pivotal moment, not just for the Gandhi family, but for the future of Indian politics.
Will Priyanka’s debut in Parliament mark a new chapter in Indian democracy? Stay tuned as the Wayanad by-poll unfolds.
