a-new-gandhi-in-wayanad

Ever since Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's foray into active politics in 2019, there has been speculation about her potential challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Varanasi and her succession to Congress stalwart Sonia Gandhi in the traditional family seat of Rae Bareli.

 

However, the Congress has made the decision to nominate her from Wayanad in Kerala, the constituency previously held by her elder brother, Rahul Gandhi, who won it for two consecutive terms. In a significant move, Rahul has chosen to vacate Wayanad for Priyanka while retaining the Rae Bareli seat, which had been represented by their mother, Sonia Gandhi.

 

I'm very happy to be able to represent Wayanad.

I won't let the people of Wayanad feel Rahul ji's absence.

I will try my best to be a good representative.

रायबरेली के साथ मेरा बहुत पुराना रिश्ता है, जो किसी भी कीमत पर टूट नहीं सकता।

मैं और राहुल भैया.. रायबरेली और वायनाड… pic.twitter.com/KuM1LBEU7P

— Congress (@INCIndia) June 17, 2024

 

 

Rahul's victory in Wayanad in 2019 was significant, especially considering his loss in the family stronghold of Amethi.

 

In the recent Lok Sabha elections, Rahul Gandhi contested and won in both Wayanad and Rae Bareli constituencies, ultimately deciding to retain Rae Bareli and vacate Wayanad. 

 

Additionally, the 52-year-old Priyanka, who had been speculated as a potential Congress candidate for various parliamentary seats, is set to make her electoral debut from the secure constituency of Wayanad in Kerala. 

 

This decision comes as the Congress secured a big victory in Kerala during both the 2019 and 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

 

"I'm not nervous at all... I am very happy to be able to represent Wayanad. All I'll say is that I won't let them feel his (Rahul's) absence. I will work hard and try my best to make everybody happy and be a good representative," Priyanka said after her candidature was announced on Monday.

 

"I have a good relation with Rae Bareli as I have worked there for 20 years and that relation will never break," she also said, adding that both she and Rahul will work together in both constituencies.

 

After stepping into active politics, she was appointed as the general secretary in charge of pivotal eastern Uttar Pradesh in January 2019. She later assumed the role of general secretary in charge of the entire state. Despite her party's underwhelming performance in the 2019 elections, she remained dedicated to fortifying the organisation at the grassroots level.

 

In December 2023, Priyanka was appointed the general secretary "without portfolio," assuming the role of Congress' chief strategist and becoming the party's leading campaigner for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

 

She also played a key role in strengthening the organisation and spearheaded the party's campaign in Himachal Pradesh, contributing to its victory in the hill state. Her efforts benefitted the Congress in the recently concluded general elections, resulting in the party securing 99 seats, up from 52 in 2019.

 

Priyanka is married to businessman Robert Vadra, who consistently expressed his desire to contest from Amethi in the lead-up to the Lok Sabha elections. The candidacy was eventually given to family loyalist Kishori Lal Sharma, who defeated BJP leader Smriti Irani.

 

If Priyanka emerges victorious in the Lok Sabha by-elections, it would mark the first instance of three members of the Gandhi family concurrently serving in Parliament. Her mother, Sonia Gandhi, is a Rajya Sabha member representing Rajasthan.

 

"The voice of the people will resonate much louder with both Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi present inside the Parliament," party leader Gaurav Gogoi said.

 

With Congress putting up a surprisingly good show in the Lok Sabha polls, Priyanka cemented her position as her party's talisman.

 

"The Congress for a long time, was in search of an effective campaigner and in the 2024 elections, Priyanka Gandhi has been a revelation in the way she has responded to Modi. Priyanka Gandhi showed Modi can be countered and played a key role pan-India," said Rasheed Kidwai, who has authored several books, including "24 Akbar Road: A Short History of the People Behind the Fall and Rise of the Congress".

 

Political commentator and former Congress leader Sanjay Jha hailed Priyanka Gandhi as an "outstanding campaigner".

 

"Her sharp and prompt rebuttals to Mr Modi's jibes have worked wonders during the campaign. Her presence has been talismanic," he said.

 

The INDIA bloc won 234 seats out of 543 in the Lok Sabha elections, with the Congress emerging as its largest constituent with 99 seats. The election campaign saw a spirited fightback by the Congress, with Priyanka playing a pivotal role in countering constant barbs from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other BJP leaders.

 

Countering Prime Minister Modi over his "gold and mangalsutra" remarks, an emotionally charged Priyanka reminded the voters that her mother, Sonia Gandhi, sacrificed her mangalsutra for the country.

 

The speculation was intense, as was the spotlight on everything she said.

 

The Congress general secretary did not take the electoral plunge at that time but opted to contest the by-poll from Wayanad after guiding the party to a stronger position in Parliament compared to the results of 2014 and 2019.

 

Discussing her childhood, the pain of her father Rajiv Gandhi's assassination and her mother's grief, she steered the Congress campaign, adroitly walking the tightrope between striking a familial chord and discussing national-level issues, and proved to be a strategist, orator and mass mobiliser.

 

Analysts added up the figures after the 2024 general elections concluded.

 

During her campaign, Priyanka participated in 108 public meetings and roadshows. She toured 16 states and one Union territory and spoke at two workers' conferences in Amethi and Rae Bareli.

 

Most of her speeches resembled conversations with the audience, creating a bond and making people feel they knew her, as if she was sharing her thoughts and feelings with them.

 

Throughout her campaign speeches in various parts of the country, Priyanka consistently emphasised the importance of accountability. She also urged people not to base their votes on emotional issues related to religion and caste, but to consider issues that directly affect their everyday lives.

 

Before 2019, Priyanka oversaw the election campaigns for her mother and brother in Amethi and Rae Bareli.

 

In the recent elections, Rahul achieved a significant 64.7 per cent share of the votes in Wayanad, surpassing his closest competitor, Annie Raja of CPI, by 3.64 lakh votes. The BJP candidate K Surendran came in third with 1.3 lakh votes.