Hours after the announcement of Priyanka Gandhi's electoral debut from Wayanad Lok Sabha seat, senior Congress leaders including Shashi Tharoor took to social media to express their happiness over the decision and said that years of ambiguity over her entry into active electoral politics is finally over.
Late on Monday evening, the Congress High Command announced that Priyanka Gandhi would be contesting the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat in Kerala, a seat previously held by his brother Rahul Gandhi. Rahul Gandhi secured victories in both the Lok Sabha seats he contested -- Wayanad in Kerala and Raebareli in Uttar Pradesh -- with impressive margins in the general elections.
Shashi Tharoor took to X, proclaiming, "No more doubt, here comes Priyanka." Robert Vadra echoed this sentiment by sharing the same image with folded hands and a heart emoji.
Since her entry into active politics in 2019, Priyanka, has been seen as a potential challenger to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, particularly from Varanasi, and as a successor to Congress veteran Sonia Gandhi in Rae Bareli.
However, the Congress party has now decided to field her from Kerala's Wayanad. Rahul Gandhi, who recently decided to vacate the Wayanad seat for Priyanka while retaining Rae Bareli, has expressed confidence in her abilities to carry forward his legacy in Kerala.
Meanwhile, Priyanka Gandhi said that she would not let the people of Wayanad feel Rahul's absence.
"I am very happy to be able to represent Wayanad and I will not let them feel his (Rahul Gandhi's) absence. I will work hard and I will try my best to make everyone happy and be a good representative. I have a very old relationship with Raebareli and Amethi and it cannot be broken. I will also help my brother in Raebareli. We will both be present in Raebareli and Wayanad," she said.
Soon after the announcement, several Congress workers in Wayanad took to the streets and raised slogans welcoming Priyanka Gandhi to the southern state.
The name of 52-year-old Priyanka Gandhi was been speculated as a Congress candidate for several parliamentary seats, including Amethi, Raebareli, and Varanasi. However, now she will finally debut in electoral politics from the safe environs of Wayanad in Kerala.
Notably, if Priyanka wins the Lok Sabha bypolls, it would be for the first time that three members of the Gandhi family will be in Parliament.
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