Priyanka Gandhi makes electoral debut in Wayanad  

Retention of Rahul Gandhi’s former seat key for Congress & its candidate

Politics

October 25, 2024

/ By / New Delhi

Priyanka Gandhi makes electoral debut in Wayanad   

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra officially filed her nomination for the Wayanad Lok Sabha bypoll in Kerala on Thursday

After having campaigned for Congress for years, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has entered the electoral politics herself, filing her nomination from Wayanad Lok Sabha elections. Her candidacy represents a strategic move for the Congress, aiming to strengthen its presence in the South India.

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In a significant political development, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra officially filed her nomination for the Wayanad Lok Sabha bypoll in Kerala on Thursday. This marked her first bid for the elected office, even though she has been a prominent face of the Indian National Congress party for years. The move is seen as a calculated effort by the Congress to strengthen its foothold in south India, a region where the party has seen more support compared to other parts of the country.

Vadra’s electoral debut has been shaped by political strategy. Following the Pulwama terror attack on February 14, 2019, her first scheduled press conference was cancelled, keeping her out of the public eye as a direct political contender. Instead, Vadra has served as a behind-the-scenes strategist for the Congress over the past five years.

Vadra’s announcement to contest the elections from Wayanad marks a pivotal chapter for the Congress party (Photo: X/@priyankagandhi)

Vadra’s announcement to contest the elections from Wayanad marks a pivotal chapter for the Congress party, which has dominated this parliamentary seat since its inception in 2008. Wayanad has traditionally been a stronghold for Congress, and it is primarily challenged by the Left. The first representative of this constituency was the Congress leader MI Shanavas, who triumphed in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections. Shanavas, a former leader of the Kerala Students’ Union, rose through the ranks of the Congress party, eventually serving as vice-president of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee until his passing in 2018.

His initial victory was marked by a notable 49.86 pc share of the votes, defeating his Communist Party of India (CPI) opponent by a significant margin of over 150,000 votes. In 2014, he retained his seat, although the competition intensified as the Left emerged as a formidable contender, resulting in a narrower margin of victory with only about 21,000 votes separating the two parties. Shanavas’s Muslim identity resonated with the constituency’s substantial Muslim electorate, which constituted 41 pc of the voters according to the 2011 Census.

After Shanavas’s death, Rahul Gandhi became the Congress candidate for Wayanad in the 2019 elections

After Shanavas’s death, Rahul Gandhi became the Congress candidate for Wayanad in the 2019 elections (Photo: X/@priyankagandhi)

After Shanavas’s death, Rahul Gandhi became the Congress candidate for Wayanad in the 2019 elections, a crucial move as he faced intense competition from BJP leader Smriti Irani in Amethi, a constituency historically associated with the Gandhi family. Wayanad proved essential for Gandhi, as he secured a remarkable 64.8 pc of the vote share, defeating the CPI candidate by 432,000 votes. This victory not only bolstered his political image but also contributed to Congress’s sweeping success across Kerala in that election cycle.

In the next Lok Sabha elections, Gandhi managed to hold on to Wayanad, though both his vote share and winning margin experienced a decline, with figures of 59.69 pc and a margin of 364,000 votes, respectively. This decrease was starkly contrasted by other candidates from the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF), who saw significant improvements in their winning margins compared to 2019.

With the upcoming bypoll, Congress is not just focusing on Wayanad; it is using this opportunity to strengthen its overall positioning. A win for Vadra would not only mark a historic moment, as all three active members of the Gandhi family Priyanka, Rahul and their mother, Sonia Gandhi would simultaneously be Members of Parliament, but it also poses questions about the balance of power within the party, traditionally dominated by the Gandhis.

The party’s strategy also taps into a broader plan to counter the influence of the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) in the south, where Congress presents itself as a key contender. This is crucial, as the BJP has largely struggled to penetrate southern states like Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Congress leaders hope that Vadra’s campaign will rally voters around the party’s platform, which includes promises of social welfare, economic reforms and maintaining secular values in the face of rising communal tensions across India.

While Wayanad has historically favoured Congress. Critics argue that Rahul Gandhi’s engagement with the constituency felt distant, prompting fears that Vadra might not bridge that gap effectively. Yet, loyalty to the Gandhi family remains strong among many voters, which could be crucial in the by-election.

Vadra’s wins would solidify her position as a central figure in the Congress alongside Gandhi, potentially revitalising the party’s base and strengthening its presence in Kerala ahead of the 2026 assembly elections. The prospect of all three Gandhis in the Parliament could also alter party leadership dynamics, fostering a more coordinated response to the BJP’s dominance.

Over the years, Vadra has established herself as a backroom strategist and a charismatic campaigner, often drawing comparisons to her grandmother, Indira Gandhi. Her shift from a behind-the-scenes role to a frontline political figure indicates Congress’s intent to cultivate a more aggressive opposition strategy.

Netizens says that parliamentary presence could enhance Congress’s ability to counter the BJP narrative. Unlike previous years, where Gandhi often stood as the sole spokesperson, Vadra’s involvement could create a more formidable front. Her party says she has the potential to engage directly in debates, articulate Congress’s vision effectively and advocate for crucial issues like women’s empowerment and economic equality. As a woman leader in a predominantly male political landscape, her presence would also highlight Congress’s commitment to gender representation.

However, challenges abound. The BJP has seized on Vadra’s candidacy to criticise the Congress for its perceived dynastic politics, framing her entry as indicative of nepotism.

Electoral dynamics in Wayanad are particularly complex. Vadra’s main opponents include Sathyan Mokeri of the CPI, a veteran politician known for championing farmers’ rights, and Navya Haridas from the BJP, a young leader with strong grassroots connections.

As November 13, the date of the bye-election, approaches, all eyes are on Wayanad. For Congress, this election is more than a constituency win; it is a symbolic stance, a reassertion of the party’s ideals and a strategic pivot that may define its future trajectory.

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