Priyanka Gandhi to make poll debut from Wayanad; Rahul Gandhi to keep Raebareli seat

Priyanka Gandhi

 Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will retain his seat in Raebareli while his sister, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, will make her electoral debut from Wayanad. This announcement was made by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday. 

  Rahul Gandhi's Electoral Success

Rahul Gandhi contested and won from two constituencies, Raebareli and Wayanad, during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. As per the law, he must vacate one of the seats. Addressing the media outside his residence, Kharge clarified, "Rahul Gandhi won two Lok Sabha seats but as per the law, he has to vacate one seat. Rahul Gandhi will keep the Raebareli seat and vacate the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat."

  Priyanka Gandhi's Electoral Debut

The Congress chief further announced that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, the party's general secretary, would contest the elections from the Wayanad seat. "We have decided that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will fight elections from the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat," Kharge added.

This decision marks Priyanka Gandhi's much-anticipated entry into electoral politics. She steps into the Wayanad seat following her brother Rahul's decision to vacate it and retain the family stronghold of Raebareli.

  Decision-Making Process

The decision came after extensive consultations among top Congress leaders, including Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, general secretaries KC Venugopal and Priyanka Gandhi herself. They gathered at Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's residence to deliberate on which Lok Sabha seat Rahul Gandhi should keep.

 Election Results and Margins

Rahul Gandhi's victories in both Raebareli and Wayanad were marked by significant margins. In Raebareli, he defeated BJP's Dinesh Pratap Singh by a margin of 390,030 votes. His campaign in Raebareli aimed to preserve the party's last bastion in Uttar Pradesh after his loss in Amethi in 2019.

In Wayanad, Rahul Gandhi secured his seat by defeating Communist Party of India-Marxist candidate Annie Raja with a margin of 364,422 votes. This win in Wayanad facilitated his entry to the Lok Sabha in 2019, marking a significant achievement for the Congress party.

### Future Prospects

With Priyanka Gandhi's debut in Wayanad, the Congress party aims to strengthen its foothold and bring fresh energy to its political strategy. Her entry into electoral politics has been highly anticipated, and her performance in Wayanad will be closely watched.

Rahul Gandhi's decision to retain the Raebareli seat underscores the importance of maintaining the party's strongholds while expanding its influence in other regions. The Gandhi siblings' combined efforts are expected to bolster the Congress party's prospects in the upcoming elections.

  Conclusion

The announcement of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's electoral debut from Wayanad and Rahul Gandhi's retention of the Raebareli seat marks a significant development in the Congress party's strategy. As the party prepares for the upcoming elections, the leadership of the Gandhi family will play a crucial role in shaping its future direction. The anticipation surrounding Priyanka Gandhi's entry into active politics adds an element of excitement and speculation, with many looking forward to her impact on the electoral landscape.