Wayanad (Kerala), October 16, 2024: The Congress party announced on Tuesday that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will contest the bypoll for the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat, which was vacated by her brother, Rahul Gandhi, after his election to the Lok Sabha from Raebareli, Uttar Pradesh, earlier this year.
In a press release, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge confirmed Priyanka Gandhi’s candidacy for the Wayanad seat, as well as the party’s selection of two candidates for assembly bypolls in Kerala.
Rahul Gandhi had initially won the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat in 2019 and secured victory from both Wayanad and Raebareli in this year’s general elections. He is currently serving as the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha.
Wayanad is set to go to the polls on November 13, coinciding with voting for by-elections in 47 assembly seats across 15 states. The first phase of the Jharkhand assembly elections will also take place on the same day. Should Priyanka Gandhi secure victory, she will become the third member of the Gandhi family in the current Parliament, alongside Sonia Gandhi, who is a Rajya Sabha MP.
Priyanka Gandhi, who has long been associated with the Congress strongholds of Amethi and Raebareli, had expressed her commitment to these constituencies even after her entry into active politics. Upon accepting her candidacy for Wayanad earlier this year, she emphasized her ongoing connection to Amethi and Raebareli, stating, “I have a very old relationship with Raebareli and Amethi and it cannot be broken. I will also help my brother in Raebareli. We will both be present in Raebareli and Wayanad.”
Addressing the Wayanad bypoll, Priyanka promised to honor her brother’s legacy in the constituency. “I am very happy to be able to represent Wayanad, and I will not let them feel his (Rahul Gandhi’s) absence. I will work hard and do my best to make everyone happy and be a good representative,” she said.
Rahul Gandhi also voiced his support for his sister’s candidacy, assuring the people of Wayanad that they would continue to receive his attention and commitment. “Priyanka is going to fight elections in Wayanad, but I will be a frequent visitor to Wayanad. I will be available to the people of Wayanad, and the commitments we have made will stand. The people of Wayanad can think they have two members of Parliament, one is my sister and the other is me,” he said.
The results for the Wayanad bypoll and other assembly and Lok Sabha seats will be declared on November 23.
