Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's poll debut might finally happen, likely to contest bypoll from Wayanad: Reports

The buzz has started gathering momentum with sources telling NDTV on Thursday that Priyanka may be the Congress candidate for the bypoll from the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency in place of her brother.

Rahul Gandhi won the Lok Sabha polls with considerable margins from both the Raebareli and Wayanad constituencies.

He even claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would have lost "by two-three lakh votes" if his sister had fought against him in Varanasi.

Priyanka's poll debut was a highly anticipated issue ahead of the 2024 general elections especially after Sonia Gandhi gave up the Raebareli seat - which she had held since 2004 - and became a Rajya Sabha MP.

It was even reported that Priyanka Gandhi would contest from Raebareli and her brother would fight to win back Amethi from the BJP's Smriti Irani.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge had asked the Gandhi siblings to take a decision but expressed a desire that he would like both to contest.

He had also said that if they didn't fight from the bastions, it would send a wrong message to the workers, the Congress' allies in the Opposition, and the NDA.

Gandhi, had, however, chosen not to contest.

Media reports quoting sources close to her had said that she had made the decision thinking if she also won the Lok Sabha polls, it would have led to three Gandhis being in Parliament-her mother, brother, and her- giving credence to the BJP's dynastic politics charge against her family.

However, she had campaigned heavily in Raebareli and Amethi, both of which were won by her party with big margins.

When the Lok Sabha results were declared, the Samajwadi Party-Congress alliance shocked the BJP and pollsters by winning 43 of Uttar Pradesh's 80 constituencies, with the Congress alone moving up to six from its 2019 tally of one. The BJP, which had clinched 62 constituencies last time, was reduced to 33, four lower than the Samajwadi Party's 37.

After the results, Rahul praised his sister's role while thanking the residents of UP.