Wayanad By Election: The political spotlight is now on Priyanka Gandhi, Congress General Secretary, who is making headlines after filing her nomination for the Wayanad by-election. This marks a significant move for her, as she becomes the fourth member of the Gandhi family to focus on a southern constituency.
Previously, Indira Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, and Rahul Gandhi have all contested and won elections from southern states. With Priyanka stepping into the Wayanad by-election, many are curious about the reasons behind this strategic move.
Why Priyanka Gandhi Chose Wayanad?
Rahul Gandhi had earlier won the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat during the 2024 elections, along with his traditional seat in Raebareli. However, he chose to retain his Raebareli seat and stepped down from Wayanad, leaving it open for a new candidate. To keep this seat within the Gandhi family, Congress has now nominated Priyanka Gandhi for the Wayanad by-election.
Priyanka Gandhi officially submitted her nomination in the presence of top Congress leaders, including Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and party president Mallikarjun Kharge. The by-election in Wayanad is set for November 13, and voters will once again choose their representative.
Priyanka Gandhi’s First Electoral Battle
The Wayanad By Election marks Priyanka Gandhi’s first attempt at winning a Lok Sabha seat. Many wonder why she is contesting in Kerala, rather than a northern state. Political experts believe that the current political climate in northern India is not favorable for Congress, which has faced challenges in states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Haryana. This could explain why Priyanka Gandhi is looking to secure a seat from the more Congress-friendly southern state of Kerala.
Why Wayanad is Important for the Gandhi Family
Rahul Gandhi has a strong connection with Wayanad. He won the seat in both the 2019 and 2024 general elections, making it a crucial constituency for the Gandhi family. By nominating Priyanka Gandhi, the family aims to maintain its political presence in Wayanad and send a message of continued commitment to the people of the region.
While addressing a public rally in Wayanad, Priyanka Gandhi expressed her gratitude, saying, “My sisters and brothers, you stood with my brother when the entire world was against him. You gave him strength to keep fighting. My whole family is grateful to you for this support.”
A Gandhi Family Tradition of Contesting from the South
Priyanka Gandhi is following a path similar to other Gandhi family members who have contested elections from southern states. Indira Gandhi, after losing in Raebareli in 1977, won a by-election from Chickmagalur, Karnataka, in 1978. Sonia Gandhi also made her political debut in the south, contesting and winning from Bellary, Karnataka, in the 1999 elections. Rahul Gandhi, too, contested and won from Wayanad in 2019.
With this long tradition, Priyanka Gandhi’s candidacy in the Wayanad by-election feels like a natural step for the Congress party and the Gandhi family. It will be interesting to see how her journey in southern politics unfolds as she takes on this important challenge.
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