Rahul to keep Rae Bareli, Priyanka to contest from Wayanad

In what may change the complexion of both Parliament and opposition politics, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will take the electoral plunge from Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency in Kerala, which her brother Rahul Gandhi has decided to vacate while retaining Rae Bareli in Uttar Pradesh.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge made the announcements to the media, after detailed discussions at his residence which involved Sonia Gandhi, the Gandhi siblings and AICC general secretary K C Venugopal. Lauding Priyanka for party’s victories in key Lok Sabha seats, Kharge said, “jeet unke haath mein hai (she’s destined to win)”.
Rahul won from both the constituencies in the 2024 LS polls, triggering speculation about the seat he would retain. The announcement also kept open the possibility of Rahul agreeing to CWC’s request to be the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha. To a query, he accepted that Mallikarjun Kharge has “warned” him of disciplinary action if he does not heed the apex body’s resolution passed last week.
Rahul said while Kharge asked him to opt for Rae Bareli, he, too, felt that given the situation in the country, the main fight was in UP.
As Kharge said Rahul was vacating Wayanad with “great pain”, the scion spoke about “emotional bond” with Rae Bareli and Wayanad, adding that he would stay in touch with the Kerala seat which, he expressed confidence, Priyanka would win – a sentiment that his sister reciprocated while underlining her long connection with Rae Bareli and Amethi. “Both (Wayanad and Rae Bareli) will have two MPs,” Rahul quipped. He said he will remember Wayanad’s love for life, as “it gave me energy to fight in very difficult times”.
Kharge thanked Priyanka for backing the party in difficult times with her campaigning, especially helping win back Amethi and managing Rahul’s election in Rae Bareli. Priyanka said, “I am very happy to be able to represent Wayanad. I won’t let them feel Rahul’s absence. I have an old relationship with Rae Bareli… I will help Bhaiyya in Rae Bareli also. We will both be in Rae Bareli and Wayanad.” When asked if she was nervous, Priyanka said, “Not at all.” Priyanka’s electoral debut implies that three members of the Gandhi family are now likely to be in Parliament, with Sonia Gandhi having moved to the Rajya Sabha recently. It marks a show of confidence given that PM Modi and BJP have been trying to corner the Gandhis with the insinuation of “dynasty politics”, a theme that was used widely in the recent polls.