The nomination of UDF candidate and Congress General Secretary, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, for the Wayanad Lok Sabha by-election was officially accepted on Monday, after her submission of papers on Saturday, according to ANI.



The Wayanad seat was vacated by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi after he was also elected to Lok Sabha from the Raebareli seat in the general elections held in 2024. The Congress party approved Priyanka Gandhi’s candidacy on October 15, after the by-election announcement by the Election Commission of India.



 

During her campaign in Kerala, Priyanka Gandhi referenced her brother, Rahul Gandhi, who is now the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha. She said, "Rahul Gandhi is deeply saddened to leave this seat. You stood by him when everyone else turned away. He says that you are like family to him."

 

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Criticising the central government, Priyanka Gandhi accused the BJP of fostering fear, distrust, and anger among communities, particularly in Manipur, as part of a deliberate strategy. She further alleged that the government’s policies favour the Prime Minister’s allies over the common people, with farmers and tribal lands being taken away unjustly, undermining the principles of the Constitution.









Referring to local issues of Wayanad, she told PTI, "My first and main promise is that I will not disappoint the people of Wayanad, I will work very hard for them, I will be raising their issues in Parliament and elsewhere. I will fight side by side with them for what they consider important for them. There are some basic pressing issues- medical college, man-animal conflict, water issues."



 

"The fight is being carried out. If I am elected, and even if I am not, my connection with Wayanad is not going to break, so I would like to travel, talk to people, understand needs of women, farmers, tribal community, then only I can formulate plan. I will do that," Priyanka added.

New Opportunities Need To Be Created: Priyanka Gandhi


While addressing a rally, she said, "Unemployment is at an all-time high in the country. Parents work hard to educate their children, but they see no future for them. You have a hub of spots here, and I know you love soccer, but your facilities are not good enough. They need to be improved."

 



"New opportunities need to be created for all these young boys who train so hard and work so hard to play for their state, to play for the country, "she added, news agency ANI reported.

 

On recent landslides in Wayanad, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said, "I will raise their voice again and again till they get compensation...I believe that a lot of them have not got compensation which is due to them. The government is supposed to release funds which they haven't. So, I will fight for that also. I will raise all these issues..."



 

Wayanad will head to the polls on November 13, coinciding with by-elections in 47 assembly constituencies across 15 states. The first phase of the Jharkhand assembly elections is also scheduled for the same day.