Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra made a stunning debut in the Lok Sabha by winning the Wayanad bypoll with a massive margin of 4,10,931 votes. She defeated CPI veteran Sathyan Mokeri, who secured 2,11,407 votes, while BJP’s Navya Haridas stood third with 1,09,939 votes. Priyanka’s victory margin surpassed her brother Rahul Gandhi’s 2024 tally of over 3.65 lakh votes and his 2019 margin of 4.3 lakh votes.
The bypoll was necessitated after Rahul vacated the Wayanad seat to retain Raebareli in Uttar Pradesh. Priyanka, who is set to take her oath as an MP in the upcoming winter session of Parliament, expressed gratitude to the voters on X (formerly Twitter), calling the win a testament to their trust. “I will ensure this victory becomes your victory, and I represent your hopes and dreams,” she wrote, promising to be their voice in Parliament.
After her win, Priyanka visited Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge’s residence in Delhi to thank him and acknowledged the support of her family, including her mother Sonia Gandhi, brother Rahul, husband Robert Vadra, and their children. Speaking to reporters, she credited Rahul’s previous work in Wayanad for contributing to her success and pledged to visit the constituency soon.
Her resounding victory is seen as a significant boost for the Congress, signaling strong voter confidence in the Gandhi family and its leadership. Priyanka’s entry into Parliament marks a pivotal moment for the party as it seeks to consolidate its position ahead of the next general elections.
