In a recent submission to the Election Commission of India (ECI), the Congress party revealed that Rahul Gandhi was allocated ₹1.40 crore to contest the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from two seats—Wayanad in Kerala and Raebareli in Uttar Pradesh. The party stated that ₹70 lakh was allocated for each seat.
Rahul Gandhi emerged victorious in both constituencies in the general elections but chose to retain his Raebareli seat, thus vacating Wayanad. This decision has opened the door for his sister, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, to make her electoral debut. The Congress general secretary has been announced as the party’s candidate for the upcoming Wayanad bypoll.
Despite being a prominent figure in the Congress, Rahul Gandhi was not the highest-funded candidate in the 2024 elections. That distinction went to Vikramaditya Singh, who received ₹87 lakh from the party fund. Other leaders, such as Kishori Lal Sharma, who triumphed over BJP’s Smriti Irani, K C Venugopal (Alappuzha), and Manickam Tagore (Virudhunagar), were also allocated ₹70 lakh each.
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The announcement of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s candidature in Wayanad marks a significant moment in Congress’s strategy, especially as the party gears up for the bypoll. With Rahul Gandhi stepping aside, the party is expected to focus on consolidating its presence in the southern state.
The Congress’s disclosure to the ECI comes amid a competitive political landscape where the allocation of funds and resources is closely scrutinized. As the bypoll approaches, all eyes will be on Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who will be taking her first steps into electoral politics on a significant platform.