politics

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra makes debut in Parliament, takes oath as Wayanad MP in Lok Sabha

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra marked her electoral debut by taking the oath as a member of the Lok Sabha on November 28, 2024. This victory ensures that all three members of the Nehru-Gandhi family—Sonia, Rahul, and Priyanka—are now in Parliament. Priyanka won the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat in a bypoll with a margin of 410,931 votes, a seat previously held by her brother, Rahul Gandhi, who resigned to retain his Rae Bareli constituency. The bypoll occurred alongside the Maharashtra and Jharkhand Assembly elections. Priyanka’s contest in Wayanad saw a triangular fight between her, BJP’s Navya Haridas, and CPI’s Sathyan Mokeri, with Priyanka representing the United Democratic Front (UDF). Despite a lower voter turnout compared to Rahul's April 2024 victory, Priyanka’s margin of victory exceeded Rahul’s previous lead, making her win significant. She now joins Rahul, the Leader of Opposition, in the Lok Sabha, while their mother, Sonia, serves in the Rajya Sabha.

first published: Nov 28, 2024 02:48 pm