The Election Commission on Tuesday announced bypolls for the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat in Kerala and the Nanded seat in Maharashtra. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi is expected to make her electoral debut by contesting from Wayanad.
The Wayanad seat was vacated by Rahul Gandhi after he also secured a Lok Sabha win from Rae Bareli in Uttar Pradesh during the general elections held earlier this year.
In June, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge confirmed that Rahul Gandhi would retain Rae Bareli, a family stronghold, while the Wayanad seat would be entrusted to Priyanka Gandhi.
Rahul Gandhi, who first won the Wayanad seat in 2019, currently serves as the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. If Priyanka Gandhi secures a win, she will become the third Gandhi family member in the current Parliament, joining Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi, who now serves as a member of the Rajya Sabha.
The bypoll for Wayanad is scheduled for November 13, coinciding with the first phase of assembly elections in Jharkhand and by-elections for 47 assembly seats across 15 states.
In a statement, Priyanka Gandhi expressed her commitment to her new constituency while reaffirming her strong ties with Rae Bareli and Amethi. “I am very happy to represent Wayanad, and I will ensure the people never feel Rahul’s absence. I will work hard to make everyone happy and be a good representative,” she said. She emphasized that her relationship with Amethi and Rae Bareli, two Gandhi family bastions, would remain intact: “I will also continue supporting my brother in Rae Bareli.”
Rahul Gandhi, too, expressed confidence in his sister’s success in Wayanad, assuring the people that he would remain closely involved with the constituency. “Priyanka will be your representative, but I will frequently visit Wayanad. The promises we made will stand, and we are committed to fulfilling them,” Rahul Gandhi said.
He added: “It was a difficult decision to choose between Rae Bareli and Wayanad, but I am glad to represent Rae Bareli again. The people of Wayanad can now consider themselves represented by both of us—Priyanka and me. My doors will always remain open for every single person in Wayanad.”
The bypoll results for Wayanad, along with other Lok Sabha and assembly seats, will be announced on November 23.
(Inputs from ANI)
