After 35 years, my first time: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra campaigns as Congress candidate in Wayanad

Priyanka, who made a late entry into politics hailing from the Gandhi family, is Congress candidate from Kerala's Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency, which was vacated by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi.

As the 52-year-old headed to file the poll nomination, Priyanka addressed the crowd and said this is the first time she is campaigning for herself, 35 years after doing the job for others.

Priyanka said, "When I was 17 years old, I campaigned for the first time for my father in 1989. It's now 35 years, 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.

"I'm deeply grateful to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge-ji for giving me this privilege to be the UDF candidate and to my family for supporting me to be a candidate for Wayanad. It's my honour to represent you if you give me a chance."

Priyanka was accompanied by Rahul Gandhi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge for the nomination filing.

The Congress general secretary became the candidate after Rahul resigned keeping the other seat he won in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Rahul won from the Gandhi bastion Rae Bareli in 2024, five years after Wayanad saved his face after electoral defeat to former Union Minister Smriti Irani in Amethi.

Wayanad will go to bypolls on November 13. The counting of votes will be held on November 23 when the assembly election results for Maharashtra and Jharkhand will also be announced.