Marking her political debut, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday signed her nomination papers for the upcoming Lok Sabha by-poll in Wayanad. Gandhi, along with her brother and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, held a mega roadshow in Kalpetta before filing her nomination.
The roadshow witnessed massive public participation, with thousands of people, including United Democratic Front (UDF) leaders and workers, gathered in Kalpetta to welcome Gandhi, as she prepares to make her electoral debut by filing nomination papers. Priyanka's husband, Robert Vadra, and one of their children were also seen along with her in the open-roof vehicle along with other senior party and IUML leaders during the roadshow.
UDF workers and supporters as well as members of the general public of all age groups, who have been waiting since early morning, welcomed her carrying placards with Priyanka and Rahul Gandhi's photographs, balloons in the party colours and drum beats. Balloons in the party colours of the Congress and its ally Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) also lined both sides of the nearly two-kilometer-long roadshow route. Green flags of IUML and the tricolour of the Congress, which were absent during Rahul Gandhi's roadshow in April this year, were also seen, but in very few numbers.
The by-election for Wayanad Lok Sabha seat was necessitated after Rahul Gandhi, who also won the Lok Sabha polls from Raebareli constituency, decided to vacate Wayanad. She is pitted against Sathyan Mokeri of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and Navya Haridas of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Haridas is a two-time Kozhikode Corporation councillor.
Gandhi arrived in the hill district on Tuesday night along with her mother, Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi reached the district subsequently.
If Priyanka Gandhi wins from Wayanad, she will be the third person from the Gandhi family to enter Parliament.