Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi marked her much-anticipated political debut on Wednesday by signing her nomination papers for the upcoming Wayanad Lok Sabha bypoll in Kerala. The by-election was necessitated after her brother, Rahul Gandhi, vacated the seat, having won it in addition to his Raebareli constituency in the previous general elections.
Priyanka Gandhi’s entry into electoral politics has been a major event for the Congress party. Alongside Rahul Gandhi, she is scheduled to hold a roadshow in Wayanad later today before officially filing her nomination papers. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress Parliamentary party chairperson Sonia Gandhi, and other senior party leaders will be by her side during the nomination process.
On Tuesday, Priyanka Gandhi arrived in Wayanad with Sonia Gandhi and met local party leaders as part of her campaign preparations. Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi also joined the team later, showcasing the party’s united front in support of Priyanka’s candidacy.
Speaking about his sister’s nomination, Rahul Gandhi expressed confidence in her ability to represent the people of Wayanad. “The people of Wayanad hold a special place in my heart, and I can’t imagine a better representative for them than my sister, Priyanka Gandhi. I’m confident she will be a passionate champion of Wayanad’s needs and a powerful voice in Parliament,” he said.
Priyanka will face competition from BJP candidate Navya Haridas and veteran CPI leader Sathyan Mokeri, who has been fielded by the Left Democratic Front (LDF).
The by-election will take place on November 13, with the vote count scheduled for November 23. Priyanka’s entry into the race has energized Congress supporters and set the stage for a fierce political contest in Wayanad.