‘Campaigned for others for 35 years, doing first time for myself’: Priyanka in Wayanad

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra filed her nomination for Kerala’s Wayanad Lok Sabha seat bypolls on Wednesday (October 23).

Earlier in the day, she got a rousing welcome from thousands of people, including the leaders and workers of the Congress-led UDF, at Kalpetta, as she prepares to make her electoral debut.

Family show

Priyanka, who arrived at the hill district on Tuesday night along with her mother, Congress parliamentary party chairperson Sonia Gandhi, led the grand roadshow along with her brother, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, from the new bus stand at Kalpetta.

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.

Amethi MP Kishori Lal Sharma was also present with them in the vehicle.

Also read: Kerala bypolls: With Priyanka effect, Congress eyes big win in Wayanad, 2 other seats

Campaigning for myself for first time: Priyanka

“Those who are in power used hatred and created separation just to stay in power. This is not the politics on which our nation was founded. Our freedom movement, led by Mahatma Gandhi ji, was inspired by equality and respect towards every religion,” Priyanka said in her speech later.

She said she has been campaigning for 35 years since the first time she did so for her father Rajiv Gandhi in 1989, at the age of 17. “I have campaigned for my mother, my brother and many of my colleagues in different elections. But this is the first time I’m campaigning for myself,” Priyanka smiled, expressing gratitude to party president Mallikarjun Kharge for giving her the opportunity to contest the seat.

A big honour and privilege: Priyanka

“A few months ago, I visited Chooralmala and Mundakkai with my brother [Rahul]. I saw the devastation with my own eyes; I saw children who have lost their whole families; I met mothers who have lost their children; I met people whose entire lives have been washed away by the landslide,” she narrated.

“One thing that I noticed — each and every person I met, whether it was a doctor, a teacher, a housewife, or anybody else was engaged in helping each other. They were supporting each other with courage without any greed, completely compassionately with love and affection. To be a part of your community and to become a part of your family is going to be a big honour and privilege for me,” Priyanka added.

Wayanad will have two MPs: Rahul

Rahul, who spoke later, said Wayanad would have “two MPs”. “What Wayanad has done for me cannot be expressed in words; the only way to express it is through actions,” he said.

“Wayanad is the only constituency in our country to have two MPs; one official and the other unofficial, they will work together in the best interest of Wayanad,” he added.

The by-election for Wayanad LS seat became necessary after Rahul Gandhi, who won the Lok Sabha polls from there and Rae Bareli constituency, decided to vacate Wayanad.

Grand rally

Earlier, as the roadshow moved forward sedately, Priyanka and Rahul waved to the massive crowd and even picked up a small girl — wearing a headband in support of the UDF — into the vehicle. The child travelled with them briefly.

The UDF workers and supporters, walking in front, alongside and at the rear of the vehicle, were heard shouting slogans in favour of Rahul and Priyanka.

UDF workers and supporters, as well as members of the general public of all age groups, who were waiting since early morning, welcomed her carrying placards with Priyanka’s and Rahul’s photographs, balloons in the party colours and drum beats.

IUML flags return

Balloons in the party colours of the Congress and its ally, Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), dominated the scene as they were also lined up on both sides of the nearly 2-km roadshow route. Green flags of IUML, which were absent during Rahul’s roadshow in April this year, were also seen, but in very few numbers.

Congress party sources on Tuesday said there were no restrictions on the display of flags of the party or IUML unlike in April this year.

The decision assumes significance as the absence of flags — of the Congress and its allies — during Rahul’s roadshow earlier this year in Wayanad ahead of the LS polls had led to the CPI(M) accusing the grand old party of being scared of what the BJP might say.

Also read: Who is Navya Haridas, Priyanka Gandhi's opponent in Wayanad bypoll?

Flag row

During the 2019 Lok Sabha poll campaign in the hill district, the green flags of Congress ally IUML outnumbered those of the party and had prompted senior BJP leader Amit Shah to remark that it was difficult to discern whether the roadshow was in “India or Pakistan”.

In April this year, in the absence of the flags, the BJP used it as an opportunity to contend that the Congress was ashamed of its ally IUML.

While Priyanka and Sonia arrived in Wayanad on Tuesday night, Rahul and Congress chief Kharge reached there by helicopter on Wednesday morning.

Priyanka will be contesting against the LDF’s Sathyan Mokeri and the BJP’s Navya Haridas.

Wayanad contenders

Mokeri, a former MLA from the Nadapuram constituency in Kozhikode district, is known for his work addressing issues in the agricultural sector.

Haridas is a two-time councillor in the Kozhikode Corporation. She is also the state general secretary of the Mahila Morcha.

Voting in Wayanad will be held on November 13.

(With agency inputs)