Priyanka Gandhi Files Nomination From Wayanad

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra filed her nomination papers on Wednesday for the parliamentary by-poll in Wayanad, scheduled on November 13. The results of the poll will be announced on November 23.

Priyanka was accompanied by her mother Sonia Gandhi, brother and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, husband Robert Vadra, and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge. Before filing her nomination papers, she held a roadshow with the party leaders and addressed a gathering.

Addressing a rally, Priyanka Gandhi lauded her brother Rahul, who represented the seat from 2019 to 2024 in the 17th Lok Sabha, stating that he has explained to her the “larger issues” people face in the constituency. She sought support from the people in the poll. She had been campaigning in elections for 35 years, but this was the first time when she was seeking support for herself, adds Priyanka.

Rahul Gandhi backed her sister for the nomination from Wayanad and said that she would be the “official” MP from the seat while “the other” would be the “unofficial” MP.

Priyanka Gandhi’s nomination comes as Rahul resigned from the Wayanad seat following his victory on both the seats where he contested in the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 – Wayanad (Kerala) and Rae Bareli (Uttar Pradesh). The Congress leader had chosen to represent the latter in the Lower House of the Parliament, thus necessitating a by-election in Wayanad.

BJP Reacts

After Priyanka filed her nomination, The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) responded with a ‘Jinnah’ dig at Congress. Party leader Amit Shah took to X and wrote, “Who would have imagined that Priyanka Vadra, like her brother, would look for a safe seat, in a minority-dominated Wayanad, to make her poll debut? Jinnah must be feeling vindicated in his grave, that his Muslim League now has a new destination – the Indian National Congress.”