Thiruvananthapuram: In a pivotal moment for her political career, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is officially stepping into the electoral arena as the party’s candidate for the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency in Kerala. This marks her first bid for office, shifting from her previous role of campaigning for family members to running for election herself.
At a rally held before filing her nomination, Priyanka reflected on her political journey, recalling, “When I was 17 years old, I campaigned for my father in 1989. Now, 35 years later, this is the first time I’m campaigning for myself.” She expressed her gratitude to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge for the opportunity and acknowledged the backing of her family.
Priyanka’s candidacy follows the decision by her brother, Rahul Gandhi, to vacate the Wayanad seat to concentrate on another constituency, Rae Bareli, which he secured in the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Rahul had previously depended on Wayanad after his defeat to Smriti Irani in Amethi.
Accompanying Rahul and Kharge during the nomination process, Priyanka emphasized the honor of representing Wayanad’s constituents, urging voters to grant her the opportunity to serve them.
The Wayanad constituency is set to hold by-elections on November 13, with vote counting scheduled for November 23, coinciding with the assembly election results for Maharashtra and Jharkhand.
