Priyanka Gandhi to contest Wayanad bypoll, brother Rahul Gandhi says constituency will have two MPs if she wins

Wayanad is the only constituency in the country that will have two members in Parliament, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said on Oct 23, as he asked the people of the hill region to take care of his sister, Priyanka Gandhi, just as they had protected and looked after him when he needed it most.

The former Wayanad MP, while addressing a public meeting at Kalpetta here after the massive roadshow held by Priyanka ahead of filing her nomination for the Wayanad Lok Sabha bypoll, said the Rakhi he was wearing was made by his sister and it was a symbol of a brother's protection to her.

"I think all of you understand very well the relationship I have with the people of Wayanad. In her speech, Priyanka said that you protected me, looked after me when I needed it most.

"The Rakhi I am wearing was made by my sister. I don't take it off till it breaks. This is a symbol of a brother's protection to his sister. That is why I request the people of Wayand to look after my sister and protect her. She will put her entire energy into the problems of Wayanad and to protect you," said Rahul who represented the Wayanad seat in Lok Sabha from 2019 to 2024.

The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said Priyanka would be the official MP from Wayanad, while he would be the unofficial MP.

"One is the official member of the Parliament and the other is the unofficial member of the Parliament and both will work together to protect the people of Wayanad," he said, while addressing a public meeting at Kalpetta here after the massive roadshow held by his sister ahead of filing her nomination for the bypoll.

He further said that being the "unofficial MP" from Wayanad, he will come here and "interfere" in the problems people are facing.

Addressing the massive gathering in the presence of leaders including his mother and Congress Parliamentary Party leader Sonia Gandhi and AICC chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul further said that he can describe his sister in one or two sentences.

"When our father died she looked after my mother. My mother lost everything, my sister lost everything. But the person who looked after my mother was my sister. I am confident my sister is ready to sacrifice anything for her family. She considers the people of Wayanad as her family," he said.

After the public address, Priyanka left for the collectorate where she filed her nomination papers in the presence of Sonia Gandhi, Rahul, Kharge and AICC general secretary K C Venugopal.

Priyanka would be contesting against LDF's Sathyan Mokeri and BJP's Navya Haridas.

Voting in Wayanad will be held on Nov 13.

(PTI)