As soon as the by-elections were announced, the Congress wasted no time in naming candidates for all three constituencies in Kerala. Priyanka Gandhi will make her electoral debut from Wayanad, Rahul Mamkootathil is poised to contest from Palakkad, and Ramya Haridas has been selected to represent Chelakkara. Here’s a closer look at these dynamic candidates.
Priyanka Gandhi: A historic debut in Wayanad
Priyanka Gandhi’s political journey has been a gradual evolution. Early in her life, Priyanka found herself in a state of indecision regarding a career in politics. At 27, after spending ten days at a Vipassana meditation retreat, she concluded that she had no desire to join the political fray, especially as she was still processing the grief and anger over her father’s assassination. For two decades, she mostly stayed behind the scenes, helping her mother and brother during their election campaigns.
However, Priyanka made headlines in 2019 with her unexpected entry into active politics, though she refrained from contesting, instead focusing on rejuvenating Congress in Uttar Pradesh as the AICC General Secretary. Now, for the first time, Priyanka is stepping up to seek an electoral mandate from Wayanad, taking over the seat vacated by her brother, Rahul Gandhi.
Wayanad, a Congress stronghold, has consistently voted for the party and expects Priyanka to secure a comfortable victory here. Both Priyanka and the Congress are aiming for a landslide win in her debut election. In 2019, Rahul Gandhi won Wayanad with a majority of 4,31,770 votes. However, in 2024, this majority was reduced to 3,64,422 votes. His main opponents were CPI national leader Annie Raja and BJP state president K Surendran.
Priyanka’s candidacy aims to silence critics of Rahul’s move to Rae Bareli while securing a landslide victory. Her win would also mark a significant historical moment—if successful, Priyanka would join her mother Sonia (Rajya Sabha) and brother Rahul (Lok Sabha), making it the first time three family members serve in Parliament together.
Priyanka is not just a political figure. She’s an avid photographer, a skilled scuba diver, and a nature lover. As she contests in Wayanad, all eyes will be on whether she can exceed Rahul’s 2019 victory margin of over 4 lakh votes.
Rahul Mamkootathil: Rising star in Palakkad
Rahul Mamkootathil, a young and vibrant leader, has been selected by Congress to contest from Palakkad, a constituency vacated by Shafi Parambil, who won from Vadakara in the Lok Sabha elections. The party believes that Rahul is the perfect candidate to retain this seat in a politically competitive region where both the BJP and CPM have strong footholds.
Rahul, who hails from Adoor in Pathanamthitta district, began his political career in 2006 through the Kerala Students Union (KSU). Over the years, he held various key positions, including NSUI national general secretary and KSU state general secretary. Currently, he is the Youth Congress state president known for his strong oratory skills, frequently representing the Congress on television debates.
Rahul's leadership has been instrumental in organising several protest movements against the state government. His arrest during a protest march earlier this year made headlines, further cementing his position as a prominent youth leader. Now, he is all set to make his electoral debut in the Palakkad by-election, with the full backing of Shafi Parambil and Opposition leader V D Satheesan. Congress is optimistic that Rahul will successfully carry the party’s torch forward in this crucial contest.
In 2021, Shafi Parambil of the Congress won the seat by defeating E Sreedharan of the Bharatiya Janata Party with a margin of 3859 votes. Palakkad Assembly constituency falls under the Palakkad Lok Sabha constituency. Another key candidate was CPM’s C P Pramod.
Ramya Haridas: Championing Chelakkara
Ramya Haridas, one of Congress's most inspiring leaders, has been nominated for Chelakkara seat, following the election of K Radhakrishnan to the Lok Sabha. Chelakkara is part of the Alathur Lok Sabha constituency, where Radhakrishnan’s majority of 35,000 votes in the 2021 Assembly elections was reduced to just 8,798 votes in the last Lok Sabha elections.
Ramya made history in 2019 when she became the sole woman Congress candidate in Kerala to win a Lok Sabha seat. She secured an overwhelming majority of 1.59 lakh votes, defeating CPM’s P K Biju, in a victory that was especially sweet after facing a negative campaign.
Coming from humble beginnings as the daughter of a daily wage labourer and a tailor, Ramya's journey into politics was propelled by a talent hunt organised by Rahul Gandhi six years ago. Her leadership potential was quickly recognised, and she has since become a formidable figure in Kerala politics.
Ramya's financial struggles were evident during her campaign, with her assets amounting to just Rs 22,816. Supporters rallied behind her, launching an 'election fund challenge' on social media to raise money for her campaign. Her resilience, leadership, and grassroots connection make her a strong contender in Chelakkara, where she aims to replicate her earlier success and build on the Congress's legacy in the region.
In 2021, K Radhakrishnan of the CPM won the seat by defeating C C Sreekumar of the Congress with a margin of 39,400 votes. Shajumon Vattekkad of BJP was another main candidate from Chelakkara constituency that comes under Alathur Lok Sabha constituency.
With three dynamic and capable leaders standing in the by-elections, the Congress party is not only looking to retain its strongholds, but also to strengthen its position in Kerala’s political landscape. These candidates represent the new generation of Congress leadership—dedicated, resilient, and ready to take on the challenges ahead.
Published: 16 Oct 2024, 12:23 pm IST
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