'Not nervous at all ... ': Finally, Priyanka Gandhi takes electoral plunge, to contest Lok Sabha bypoll from Wayanad

17/06/2024

NEW DELHI: Finally, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has agreed to take the plunge into electoral politics. Priyanka has had a long association with politics. But till now, she has chosen to play the role of a facilitator, nurturing the constituencies of her mother Sonia Gandhi and also her brother Rahul.

"I'm not nervous at all... I am very happy to be able to represent Wayanad. All I'll say is that I won't let them feel his (Rahul's) absence. I will work hard and try my best to make everybody happy and be a good representative," Priyanka said after her candidature was announced on Monday.

"I have a good relation with Rae Bareli as I have worked there for 20 years and that relation will never break," she said and added that both of them will work together in both the constituencies.

Priyanka played an important role in Uttar Pradesh in the just concluded Lok Sabha elections. The Congress leader not just campaigned extensively to help the party win in prestige seats of Raebareli and Amethi, but she was instrumental in stitching the alliance with Akhilesh Yadav's Samajwadi Party- that eventually proved to be a winning combination for both parties.

When negotiations between the two parties had a hit a roadblock over seat sharing, it was Priyanka who dialled Akhilesh and put the alliance back on track.

Priyanka's role in Congress's performance in Uttar Pradesh is all the more significant as she had a difficult debut in the state in January 2019 when she was made the general secretary in-charge for crucial eastern Uttar Pradesh and then as the general secretary in-charge of the entire state.

The party then registered its worst-ever performance in the state. But the Congress leader continued her efforts to strengthen the organisation at the grassroots level and finally the party seems to be on the path of revival in the politically crucial state.

She also led the party's campaign in Himachal Pradesh assembly elections and helped the Congress come to power in the hill state.

Congress leaders have often projected her as the new crisis manager of the party. When Sachin Pilot had rebelled against the then chief minister of Rajasthan Ashok Gehlot, it was Priyanka had played a key role in ensuring that Pilot stayed with the Congress.

In the just-concluded Lok Sabha elections, Priyanka was one of the star campaigners. She targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi in her speeches and countered his charges against the grand old party. Priyanka's supporters would have hoped to see her contest from her karmabhoomi of Uttar Pradesh. But for now it is Wayanad calling.

If Priyanka wins the Lok Sabha bypolls, it would be for the first time that three members of the Gandhi family will be in Parliament. Her mother Sonia Gandhi is a Rajya Sabha member from Rajasthan.

For more news like this visit TOI. Get all the Latest News, City News, India News, Business News, and Sports News. For Entertainment News, TV News, and Lifestyle Tips visit Etimes

OTHER NEWS