With Gandhi clan in Wayanad, KPCC asks to curtail unnecessary political activity during the Lok Sabha by-election and instead focus energies on two other assembly seats - Palakkad and Chelakkara.
Published Oct 23, 2024 | 11:58 AM ⚊ Updated Oct 23, 2024 | 7:00 PM
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra signing the nomination paper before submitting them in Wayanad on Wednesday. (Supplied)
The entire Gandhi clan was in Wayanad, a hilly district in northeast Kerala when AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra arrived there on Wednesday, 23 October, to file nomination papers for the Lok Sabha by-poll scheduled for 13 November.
Accompanied by her mother Sonia Gandhi, brother Rahul Gandhi, husband Robert Vadra, and children Raihan and Miraya, Priyanka filed her papers, marking her debut in electoral politics.
She proceeded to the District Civil Station at Kairali Nagar to submit her papers after a roadshow. Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, and Congress Kerala President and Kannur MP K Sudhakaran accompanied her along with scores of party workers and leaders.
Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leaders Sayyid Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal and PK Kunhalikutty also accompanied her.
Priyanka filed the nominations in the presence of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, AICC General Secretary KC Venugopal, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and others.
The roadshow from Kalpetta covered 1.5 kilometres and turned out to be a show of the Congress-led UDF’s strength.
The by-poll was necessitated after Rahul Gandhi vacated the seat — which elected him twice in 2019 and 2024 — to retain Raebareli, a constituency on the banks of the Sai River, a tributary of the Gomti, in Uttar Pradesh.
Even as the UDF workers in general and Congress activists in specific are upbeat over Priyanka’s presence in Wayanad, the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) issued strict directives to curtail unnecessary political activity during the by-election.
Priyanka’s late-night arrival in Wayanad had already captured national attention. The Congress general secretary visited the family of an ex-serviceman on Tuesday night.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra visited the house of an ex-service man on Tuesday night. (Supplied)
Enthusiastic locals welcomed her warmly as she arrived at Sultan Bathery from Mysuru. Along the way, an ex-serviceman told her about his elderly mother, who despite her failing health, prays for Priyanka every day and yearns to meet her in person.
Priyanka made an impromptu stop at the family’s home. The elderly woman presented Priyanka with a cherished rosary she had treasured for years.
OV Appachan, the District Congress Committee vice president of Wayanad, shared with South First that the Wayanad DCC was ready with clear strategies for the upcoming campaign.
“Priyanka will begin intense campaigning from the 29th onwards,” he stated.
“Every worker is energised and ready to contribute. We will assign responsibilities to only five MLAs in Wayanad, while district leaders will oversee operations at the panchayat level, ensuring a well-organized and efficient campaign structure,” he said.
“By strategically focusing our resources where they can make the most impact, we are not just campaigning; we are also laying the foundation for sustainable growth in the party’s base,” he said.
Priyanka will be taking on Satyan Mokeri of the LDF and Navya Haridas of the NDA in Wayanad.
In a strategic move to enhance its electoral prospects, the Congress party is intensifying its focus on the Chelakkara and Palakkad Assembly constituencies, where by-polls would be held along with Wayanad.
Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge being welcomed to Wayanad.
This decision comes as part of a broader campaign strategy aimed at maximising the party’s impact in key areas while minimising distractions from regions where the party has already established a strong presence, particularly Wayanad.
Recognising the importance of effective leadership, Congress has appointed seasoned leaders to oversee the campaign efforts in these targeted constituencies.
Senior leaders Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan and Kodikkunnil Suresh have been designated as observers for Chelakkara, bringing their experience and expertise to coordinate grassroots activities and rally support.
Similarly, Benny Behanan and KC Joseph will lead the campaign efforts in Palakkad, focusing on mobilising local resources and engaging with the electorate.
To maintain a concentrated approach, the party has decided to limit its campaign activities in Wayanad, where the presence of prominent leader Priyanka Gandhi is already being managed by the All India Congress Committee (AICC).
“We believe that concentrating our efforts in Chelakkara and Palakkad will allow us to build a stronger grassroots presence without diluting our message in Wayanad. Priyanka’s involvement there is significant, and we want to ensure we support her effectively,” a Congress leader, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told South First.
Chalakkudy MP Benny Behanan, currently serving as an election observer in Palakkad, voiced optimism about the Congress party’s chances of winning in the forthcoming by-polls for both Assembly and parliamentary seats.
“It’s natural for people and leaders to visit Wayanad to see the Gandhi family; we cannot control this tendency,” he stated.
“However, at the organisational level, we have deployed observers in each constituency. Duties in Wayanad were divided two months ago, and we are maintaining strict oversight in Palakkad and Chelakkara as well,” the MP said.
“There’s no need for the media to interpret that Chelakkara and Palakkad are more important. We have tailored strategies for Wayanad, Palakkad, and Chelakkara based on the specific nature of each constituency,” Behanan said.
“It’s noteworthy that people from North Indian states arrived in Wayanad just yesterday, eager to support Priyanka’s debut electoral battle. Rest assured, we have clear plans in place regarding who will take charge of which constituency,” he reiterated.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
