Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra entered the Lok Sabha today dressed in a Kerala Kasavu saree, evoking memories of a young Indira Gandhi, her grandmother, who was often spotted wearing similar traditional sarees during her time in the Parliament. The white saree with its gold border was not just an outfit but symbolised Kerala's cultural unity.
Priyanka Gandhi officially became a Member of the Parliament after taking oath in the Lower House on Thursday. As she stood to take her oath as the Wayanad MP, holding a copy of the Indian Constitution and dressed in the Kasavu saree, she created a political moment that was steeped in symbolism as her look reminded many of former and three-time Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
Priyanka Gandhi's choice of the traditional attire had a deep meaning attached to it. Just like her grandmother who connected with the common people through her outfits, Priyanka Gandhi's choice of saree too echoed a similar sentiment as it channeled Kerala, symbolising her connection to the state where her constituency Wayanad is, and also stirred memories of her grandmother.
Her choice of Kasavu saree appeared as a way of showing respect to the people of Wayanad, who elected her as their Lok Sabha representative.
When asked if she thought of her grandmother during the oath-taking ceremony, Priyanka Gandhi replied, "Yes, I did remembered her, and I also remembered my father."
Meanwhile, Priyanka Gandhi's oath ceremony was attended by her mother Sonia Gandhi, brother Rahul Gandhi, and her son and daughter Raihan Vadra, and Miraya Vadra.
Wayanad Bypoll
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra won the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat with a margin of 4,10,931 votes, defeating Communist Party of India (CPI) candidate Sathyan Mokeri.
Wayanad witnessed a triangular contest between Priyanka Gandhi, BJP's Navya Haridas, and CPI's Sathyan Mokeri.
The Wayanad seat, which is a Congress stronghold, was vacated by Priyanka Gandhi's brother Rahul Gandhi, after he was shifted to Raebareli in Uttar Pradesh after being elected to the Lok Sabha from both seats in Lok Sabha elections earlier this year.
Congress leader Ravindra Vasantrao Chavan also took the oath as Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha today. Another Congress leader, Ravindra Vasantrao Chavan, also won the Nanded Lok Sabha seat by-election with a margin of 5,86,788 votes. The need for a bypolls was necessitated after the death of the sitting Congress MP, Vasantrao Balwantrao Chavan.
The by-elections were held in 48 assembly seats and two Lok Sabha seats across 15 states, with key contests in Uttar Pradesh and in Kerala's Wayanad, where Priyanka Gandhi made her electoral debut.