New Delhi

INDIRA IS BACK

Priyanka Gandhi, who bears a striking resemblance to her grandmother, Indira Gandhi, appears to be a cornerstone of the resurgence of the Indian National Congress.

By Atif Shamim Syed | December 2024

Dedicated adherents of the Indian National Congress (INC) party and its long-time supporters always aspired to see Priyanka Gandhi Vadra enter active politics. This dream came true on October 23, 2024, when the 52-year-old filed nomination papers to contest by-elections in Wayanad.

Wayanad is one of the 20 Lok Sabha or Lower House of Parliament constituencies in southern India’s Kerala state. Congress leader and Priyanka’s brother, Rahul Gandhi, was elected from Wayanad in the general elections. However, having won two parliamentary seats—another from Rae Bareli—Rahul resigned from Wayanad, thereby causing a by-election. Priyanka will contest the same seat for Congress.

Currently serving as Congress party’s general secretary, Priyanka’s formal political entry was marked by chaos. On February 14, 2019, her first press conference was abruptly cancelled following the Pulwama incident. Since then, she has avoided the press and preferred working as a behind-the-scenes strategist. Now, after five years, she is entering electoral politics at a time deemed most opportune for the grand old party. Her party fared well in the 2024 general election, almost doubling its seats since the last polls. Congress is going through a political revival, and Priyanka is seen as a cornerstone of this resurgence.

Priyanka bears a striking resemblance to her grandmother, Indira Gandhi. She has thus far kept a low profile but is known to be very soft-spoken and articulate, with a talent for connecting with people from all walks of life. Senior Congress party members wanted her to run in the general elections against the incumbent prime minister from Varanasi. Priyanka Gandhi declined this request. Modi won the constituency from other candidates, albeit with a much smaller margin.

Priyanka’s decision to contest Wayanad by-election carries significant weight within the party and without. Her triumph would mark a historic milestone, propelling all three politically active Gandhis into the Parliament. This unique situation prompts questions about power dynamics within Congress, where Gandhi’s name has always held sway.

Priyanka’s decision reaffirms her family’s firm commitment to maintaining their political legacy. Wayanad constituency has been a solid Congress bastion throughout its toughest years, which saw one election setback after another. But Wayanad stood firm behind Congress. The choice of contesting the same seat underscores the party’s strategy of retaining its foothold in Southern India and establishing a deeper connection within the electorate.
Wayanad has a sizeable Muslim and Christian population traditionally aligned with Congress. However, locals have recently raised concerns that Rahul Gandhi is not fully invested in the well-being and welfare of this constituency. Once elected, Priyanka may also face the same criticism. The election itself will present a formidable challenge. Priyanka will be up against two tough adversaries: veteran leader Sathyan Mokeri and two-time councillor Navya Haridas.

Sathyan Mokeri represents the Communist Party of India (CPI). He is a vocal supporter of farmers ‘rights and boasts a sizeable following. Bharatiya Janta Party’s candidate, Navya Haridas, holds a B-Tech degree in Mechanical Engineering. She is only 36 and is regarded as the BJP’s rising star. As a councillor, Navya Haridas has successfully established deep community links within the constituency. She is part of a larger BJP strategy to make inroads into Kerala state, where it has never been able to drop anchor.

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