Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Priyanka Gandhi to contest seat vacated by Rahul in her electoral debut

During the recent general election, Priyanka Gandhi played a pivotal role in countering barbs from Narendra Modi and other BJP leaders

Priyanka Gandhi to contest seat vacated by Rahul in her electoral debut

Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi, who won from two constituencies in the recent general election, will surrender one of them to comply with the election laws. His younger sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will be the party's candidate for that seat.

Rahul Gandhi won from Rae Bareli in Uttar Pradesh state and Wayanad in Kerala, and he has decided to surrender Wayanad, where he won two consecutive terms. For Priyanka Gandhi, this will mark her electoral debut.


Congress party president Mallikarjun Kharge made the announcement after a party meeting.

"The party has decided that Rahul Gandhi should keep the Rae Bareli seat because it has been close to him and his family for generations," he said.

Kharge also said that Rahul has received love from the people of Wayanad and they want him to retain the seat. "But the rules don't allow this. So we have decided that Priyanka will contest from Wayanad," he said.

According to the Representation of the People Act, a candidate is permitted to contest an election from up to two constituencies, but he or she can hold only one seat at a time if elected from both.

During the general election, the opposition INDIA bloc won 233 seats out of 543 in the Lok Sabha, with Congress emerging as its largest constituent with 99 seats.

The election campaign saw a spirited fightback by the Congress with 52-year-old Priyanka playing a pivotal role in countering constant barbs from Modi and other BJP leaders.

Countering prime minister Modi over his "gold and mangalsutra" remarks, an emotionally charged Priyanka reminded the voters that her mother Sonia Gandhi sacrificed her mangalsutra for the country.

She took part in 108 public meetings and roadshows. She campaigned in 16 states and one union territory.

Discussing her childhood, the pain of her father Rajiv Gandhi's assassination and her mother's grief, she steered the Congress campaign, adroitly walking the tightrope between striking a familial chord and discussing national-level issues, and proved to be a strategist, orator and mass mobiliser.

Political commentator and former Congress leader Sanjay Jha hailed Priyanka Gandhi as an "outstanding campaigner". "Her sharp and prompt rebuttals to Modi's jibes have worked wonders during the campaign. Her presence has been talismanic," he said.

During the recent election, Priyanka's name did the rounds as the Congress candidate for Amethi, Rae Bareli as well as Varanasi parliamentary seats, but she decided not to take the electoral plunge at that time.

After guiding the party to a stronger position in Parliament when compared with the results of 2014 and 2019, she has now decided to contest from Wayanad.

After her candidature was announced, Priyanka said, "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 have a good relation with Rae Bareli as I have worked there for 20 years and that relation will never break."

"Priyanka will contest from Wayanad, but I will also go there frequently and we will fulfil all the promises we made to the people there. I have an old connection with Rae Bareli and I am happy to represent them, but it wasn't an easy decision. It was a tough one. The people of Wayanad stood with me and supported me. They gave me energy to fight in a very difficult time. I will be available for the people of Wayanad," Rahul Gandhi said.

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.

More For You

Starmer-Modi-Getty
Starmer during a bilateral meeting with Modi as he attends the G20 summit on November 18, 2024 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo: Getty Images)

2024 in review: Strengthening India-UK ties amid leadership changes

THE YEAR 2024 brought significant political and economic developments for India and the United Kingdom, shaping the trajectory of their bilateral relations.

A key highlight was the decision to relaunch negotiations for a "mutually beneficial" Free Trade Agreement (FTA), a move that underscores the growing importance of trade between the two nations.

Keep ReadingShow less
Starmer nominates Raval,  Debbonnaire for peerage

Krish Raval

Starmer nominates Raval,  Debbonnaire for peerage

RIME MINISTER Keir Starmer has nominated British Indian professional Krish Raval and British Sri Lankan politician Thangam Debbonnaire for peerage as his government unveiled the latest picks for parliament's unelected upper chamber. The Liberal Democrats have British Pakistani councillor Shaffaq Mohammed on their list. According to reports, former prime minister Rishi Sunak's nominations for the House of Lords are expected at a later date.

The Labour leader also appointed his controversial ex-chief of staff Sue Gray to the House of Lords. Gray, who quit as Starmer's top Downing Street staffer in October amid reported internal tensions, became something of a household name in Britain after leading the probe into the so-called Partygate scandal.

Keep ReadingShow less
Government apologises for smoking poster with Sikh man

Sikh teachings explicitly forbid the use of tobacco

Government apologises for smoking poster with Sikh man

THE government has issued an apology after a poster encouraging people to quit smoking sparked criticism from the Sikh community. The poster featured an image of a turbaned Sikh man alongside the message, "Make 2025 the year you quit smoking."

The image, sourced from a stock photo website, was uploaded to the NHS website as part of the Better Health campaign but has since been removed, the Sky News reported.

Keep ReadingShow less
No charges for police in viral Manchester arrest incident

The brawl started on a Qatar Airways flight, but then spilled over into the airport.

Getty Images

No charges for police in viral Manchester arrest incident

NO police will be charged over a violent incident caught on camera in which an officer appeared to kick a man and stamp on his head, UK prosecutors said.

The video, shot during an arrest at Manchester airport, went viral online, causing public outrage and sparking two nights of protests in Manchester and nearby Rochdale in northwest England in July.

Keep ReadingShow less
Jagmeet Singh targets Trudeau with no-confidence motion

Justin Trudeau (L) and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh

(Photo by JUSTIN TANG/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Jagmeet Singh targets Trudeau with no-confidence motion

CANADIAN prime minister Justin Trudeau looked set to lose power early next year after a key ally said he would move to bring down the minority Liberal government and trigger an election.

New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh, who has been helping keep Trudeau in office, said he would present a formal motion of no-confidence after the House of Commons elected chamber returns from a winter break on Jan. 27.

Keep ReadingShow less