NEW DELHI: In what may change the complexion of both Parliament and opposition politics, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will take the electoral plunge from Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency in Kerala, which her brother Rahul Gandhi has decided to vacate while retaining Rae Bareli in UP.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge made the two announcements to the media on Monday evening, after detailed discussions at his residence which involved Sonia Gandhi, the Gandhi siblings and AICC general secretary K C Venugopal – who flanked him at the press meet (barring Sonia).Lauding Priyanka for party’s victories in key Lok Sabha seats, Kharge said, “jeet unke haath mein hai (she’s destined to win)”.
Rahul won from the two constituencies in the 2024 LS polls, triggering speculation about the seat he would retain. He gave a hint of the likely decision on a thanksgiving tour to Wayanad on June 12, when he spoke about his “dilemma” over which seat to quit, but added that constituents in both the places would be happy with his decision.
The announcement also kept open the possibility of Rahul agreeing to CWC’s request to be the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha.
To a query, Rahul accepted that Kharge has “warned” him of disciplinary action if he does not heed the apex body’s resolution passed last week.
Rahul said while Kharge asked him to opt for Rae Bareli, he, too, felt that given the situation in the country, the main fight was in UP.
As Kharge said Rahul was vacating Wayanad with “great pain”, the scion spoke about an “emotional bond” with Rae Bareli and Wayanad, adding that he would stay in touch with the Kerala seat which, he expressed confidence, Priyanka would win – a sentiment that his sister reciprocated while underlining her long connection with Rae Bareli-Amethi. “Both (Wayanad and Rae Bareli) will have two MPs,” Rahul quipped. He said he will remember Wayanad’s love for life, as “it gave me energy to fight in very difficult times”.
Kharge thanked Priyanka for backing the party in difficult times with her campaigning, especially helping win back Amethi and managing Rahul’s election in Rae Bareli. Priyanka said, “I am very happy to be able to represent Wayanad. I won’t let them feel Rahul’s absence. I have an old relationship with Rae Bareli… I will help Bhaiyya in Rae Bareli also. We will both be in Rae Bareli and Wayanad.” When asked if she was nervous, Priyanka said, “Not at all.”
Priyanka’s electoral debut implies that three members of the Gandhi family are now likely to be in Parliament, with Sonia Gandhi having moved to the Rajya Sabha recently. It marks a show of confidence given that PM Modi and BJP have been trying to corner the Gandhis with the insinuation of “dynasty politics”, a theme that was used widely in the recent polls.
The twin decisions from Congress, coming in the wake of an election performance that the party is celebrating as “creditable in adverse circumstances”, appear loaded with future calculations. With Congress and SP cementing a relationship in UP that recently delivered an embarrassment to the governing BJP, Rahul’s staying on as representative in the state, coupled with the party’s gains in Haryana, UP, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Punjab in the 2024 contest, is designed to create a buzz about its growing strength in north and west regions, from where it had practically vanished after the advent of PM Modi on the national scene. Kharge hinted as much, when he said, “We decided that Rahul will retain Rae Bareli because it is very close to him and the family, which has been fighting the polls there for generations. Local workers also said it will be good for the party that Rahul retain Rae Bareli.”
At the same time, Congress hopes that Priyanka’s presence in the south will bolster the party’s position in turfs where her campaigning has been particularly effective, highlighted by the assembly wins in Karnataka followed by Telangana. Also, Kerala goes to the assembly polls in mid-2026.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge made the two announcements to the media on Monday evening, after detailed discussions at his residence which involved Sonia Gandhi, the Gandhi siblings and AICC general secretary K C Venugopal – who flanked him at the press meet (barring Sonia).Lauding Priyanka for party’s victories in key Lok Sabha seats, Kharge said, “jeet unke haath mein hai (she’s destined to win)”.
Rahul won from the two constituencies in the 2024 LS polls, triggering speculation about the seat he would retain. He gave a hint of the likely decision on a thanksgiving tour to Wayanad on June 12, when he spoke about his “dilemma” over which seat to quit, but added that constituents in both the places would be happy with his decision.
The announcement also kept open the possibility of Rahul agreeing to CWC’s request to be the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha.
To a query, Rahul accepted that Kharge has “warned” him of disciplinary action if he does not heed the apex body’s resolution passed last week.
Rahul said while Kharge asked him to opt for Rae Bareli, he, too, felt that given the situation in the country, the main fight was in UP.
As Kharge said Rahul was vacating Wayanad with “great pain”, the scion spoke about an “emotional bond” with Rae Bareli and Wayanad, adding that he would stay in touch with the Kerala seat which, he expressed confidence, Priyanka would win – a sentiment that his sister reciprocated while underlining her long connection with Rae Bareli-Amethi. “Both (Wayanad and Rae Bareli) will have two MPs,” Rahul quipped. He said he will remember Wayanad’s love for life, as “it gave me energy to fight in very difficult times”.
Kharge thanked Priyanka for backing the party in difficult times with her campaigning, especially helping win back Amethi and managing Rahul’s election in Rae Bareli. Priyanka said, “I am very happy to be able to represent Wayanad. I won’t let them feel Rahul’s absence. I have an old relationship with Rae Bareli… I will help Bhaiyya in Rae Bareli also. We will both be in Rae Bareli and Wayanad.” When asked if she was nervous, Priyanka said, “Not at all.”
Priyanka’s electoral debut implies that three members of the Gandhi family are now likely to be in Parliament, with Sonia Gandhi having moved to the Rajya Sabha recently. It marks a show of confidence given that PM Modi and BJP have been trying to corner the Gandhis with the insinuation of “dynasty politics”, a theme that was used widely in the recent polls.
The twin decisions from Congress, coming in the wake of an election performance that the party is celebrating as “creditable in adverse circumstances”, appear loaded with future calculations. With Congress and SP cementing a relationship in UP that recently delivered an embarrassment to the governing BJP, Rahul’s staying on as representative in the state, coupled with the party’s gains in Haryana, UP, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Punjab in the 2024 contest, is designed to create a buzz about its growing strength in north and west regions, from where it had practically vanished after the advent of PM Modi on the national scene. Kharge hinted as much, when he said, “We decided that Rahul will retain Rae Bareli because it is very close to him and the family, which has been fighting the polls there for generations. Local workers also said it will be good for the party that Rahul retain Rae Bareli.”
At the same time, Congress hopes that Priyanka’s presence in the south will bolster the party’s position in turfs where her campaigning has been particularly effective, highlighted by the assembly wins in Karnataka followed by Telangana. Also, Kerala goes to the assembly polls in mid-2026.
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