Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi is set to file her nomination for the Wayanad Lok Sabha by-election in Kerala on Wednesday, marking her entry into electoral politics. She will be accompanied by her mother, Sonia Gandhi, who chairs the Congress Parliamentary Party, along with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, her brother Rahul Gandhi, general secretary KC Venugopal, and numerous other party leaders.
Upon arriving in Kerala on Tuesday, Priyanka Gandhi visited a local family’s home and that of an ex-serviceman. The pair received a warm welcome from party workers in Sulthan Bathery.
The Wayanad seat became vacant after Rahul Gandhi decided to retain his position in the Rae Bareli constituency. Prior to her nomination, Priyanka and Rahul Gandhi are expected to conduct a roadshow at11:00 am starting from the Kalpetta Bus Stand. Following this, Priyanka will file her nomination papers at the district collector’s office in Kalpetta.
As per the Congress schedule, Priyanka Gandhi will speak at a public meeting at 11:45 am at Gudalai, located opposite the KWA Office in Kalpetta. She faces competition from Navya Haridas, a candidate representing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and Sathyan Mokeri from the Left Democratic Front (LDF). Haridas is a two-time councillor from the Kozhikode Corporation.
Rahul Gandhi noted that both Rae Bareli and Wayanad will have two Members of Parliament and expressed confidence in Priyanka’s success in Wayanad. If elected, Priyanka Gandhi would become the third member of the Gandhi family to serve in Parliament. Before entering active politics, she helped manage her family’s political strongholds in Amethi and Rae Bareli and has developed her role as a key strategist for the party.
The by-election for Wayanad is slated for November 13.