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NATION JUNE 21, 2024 | The Indian Eye 6

CONGRESS PARTY

With Priyanka’s debut in electoral politics,

Waynad set to become another family seat

If Priyanka Gandhi wins from Wayanad, three members of the Nehru-Gandhi family will be in Parliament -

Sonia Gandhi in Rajya Sabha and Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi in the Lok Sabha

OUR BUREAU
New Delhi
inally, the suspense is over. Priyanka Gand-
hi Vadra will make her electoral debut from
FWayanad Lok Sabha constituency, a deci-
sion that marks a significant stride for the leader
who was appointed Congress general secretary in
2019. Priyanka Gandhi will make her debut in a
Lok Sabha by-poll with her brother Rahul Gand-
hi deciding to retain the Rae Bareli seat in Uttar
Pradesh of the two he contested and won.
Party president Mallikarjun Kharge announced
that Priyanka Gandhi will contest from Wayanad
at a special press conference on Monday. Rahul
Gandhi, who contested from two seats -- Rae Bare-
li and Wayanad, won from both the constituencies.
For long years, Priyanka had preferred to stay
away from the limelight while taking care of the
family strongholds of Amethi and Raebareli, rep-
resented by Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi re-
spectively.
Since entering active politics, Priyanka Gandhi
has canvassed for the party in different parts of the
country. There had been speculation from time to
time that the party may send Priyanka Gandhi to
Rajya Sabha but she has decided to contest a Lok
Sabha bypoll for her Parliament debut. Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra addresses the press conference on contesting from Wayanad Lok Sabha
If Priyanka Gandhi wins from Wayanad, three seat while her brother and party leader Rahul Gandhi retains his Rae Bareli seat, in New Delhi on Monday. Party president
members of the Nehru-Gandhi family will be in Mallikarjun Kharge and party general secretary KC Venugopal are also seen (ANI)
Parliament - Sonia Gandhi in Rajya Sabha and Ra-
hul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi in the Lok Sabha.
Though Priyanka Gandhi’s efforts in the Uttar be present in Rae Bareli and Wayanad,” Priyanka la said Rahul Gandhi has deceived the public of
Pradesh assembly polls in 2022 did not yield the Gandhi said at the special press conference in the Wayanad. He further alleged Gandhi family dis-
party desired results, she has been a popular cam- presence of Kharge and her brother Rahul Gandhi. criminated between son and daughter by sending
paigner for the party. Priyanka Gandhi campaigned Rahul Gandhi said both Raebareli and Priyanka Gandhi to South India to establish her
extensively in this year’s Lok Sabha polls. Congress Wayanad will get two MPs. “I have an emotional political journey.
put up a far better performance compared to its connection with both Wayanad and Rae Bareli. And Taking potshots at Congress, Poonawala stat-
2014 and 2019 tally and won 99 Lok Sabha seats. for the last five years, being an MP from Wayanad ed, “It has been proved that Congress is not a party
In her election speeches, Priyanka Gandhi has has been a fantastic experience and enjoyable expe- but rather a family-run company. Sonia Gandhi will
sought to raise the issues concerning common man, rience. I thanks people who stood with me, I thank be the MP from the Rajya Sabha, and Rahul Gand-
especially those pertaining to women. Priyanka the people of Wayanad who gave me love and af- hi will keep the Raebareli seat. They have decided
Gandhi said on Monday that he will contest by-poll fection. They gave me the energy to fight in a very to contest Priyanka Gandhi from Wayanad which
from Wayanad but her decades-old association with difficult time. So, I will never forget that,” he said. means the whole family will be in parliament, which
Amethi and Raebareli will continue. Following the Congress’s announcement BJP is a notion of familiarization.”
“I am very happy to be able to represent leader Rajeev Chandrashekhar on Monday hit out Slamming Rahul Gandhi’s decision to leave
Wayanad and I will not let them feel his (Rahul at the party, alleging that there is “shamelessness” Wayanad seat, the BJP leader said, “He has de-
Gandhi’s) absence. I will work hard and I will try and the party is imposing one member after anoth- ceived the public of Wayanad by leaving the seat.
my best to make everyone happy and be a good rep- er of their dynasty on voters of Wayanad. Even he didn’t tell the Wayanad public about his
resentative. I have a very old relationship with Rae- Lashing out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s contest from two seats. The left parties had con-
bareli and Amethi and it cannot be broken. I will decision to keep Raebareli seat and not Wayanad, stantly iterated that he would leave Kerala and the
also help my brother in Rae Bareli. We will both Bharatiya Janata party leader Shehzad Poonawa- same thing happened.”

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