Priyanka Gandhi Vadra commenced her electoral journey on Wednesday from Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency by filing her nomination papers for the by-election necessitated by the resignation of Rahul Gandhi, her brother who is also the Leader of the Opposition.

Husband Robert Vadra, son Rehan Vadra, mother Sonia Gandhi and a host of Congress leaders including the Chief Ministers of party-ruled Karnataka and Telangana were present at Kalpetta Civil Station while Priyanka Vadra Gandhi filed the nomination.

The occasion marked the formal entry of son Rehan Vadra into politics to continue the legacy of the Gandhi clan in the hierarchy of Indian National Congress.

Priyanka has moveable properties worth `4.25 crore and immovable properties worth `7.74 crore. According to the affidavit submitted by Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to the chief returning officer on Wednesday, the immovable properties owned by her include the palatial house at Shimla in Himachal Pradesh, valued at `5.64 crore.

In addition to the Shimla property, she owns gold and silver jewellery worth `1.16 crore and `29 lakh respectively. The Congress leader also owns 3.778 acres of agriculture land at Village Sultanpur in Mehrauli (jointly owned with brother Rahul Gandhi). This land has a market value of `7.74 crore.

While Priyanka owns agricultural properties and residential property, Robert Vadra has no such properties registered against him. But he has commercial land/buildings which command a market value of `27.64 crore. He had invested `3.62 crore in these properties spread across Gurugram and Noida. Robert Vadra also owns shares and investments worth `38 crore in companies, mutual investments and LIC policies..

According to Priyanka, the Income Tax Department has initiated proceedings against her for assessment year 2012-13 and passed reassessment order raising demand of `15.75 lakh. Currently an appeal is pending before the Commissioner of Income Tax. Assessment Proceedings have been initiated against her husband for assessment years from 2010 to 2021 and appeals are pending with the CIT.

Priyanka is a graduate in psychology with a post graduate diploma in Buddhist Studies by correspondence course. Her income, according to the affidavit is through rental income, interest from Banks and income from investment and other investments. 

Earlier, Priyanka, Rahul and Mallikarjun Kharge, president of the INC, addressed a mammoth crowd which had assembled to hear and greet the leaders. The stars of the show were Priyanka, Rahul, Sonia, Rehan and Robert Vadra. An interesting development was the slogans praising Rehan Vadra raised by the Congress crowd.

‘This is the beginning of a new journey by me. You have accepted and loved my brother as a member of your family. I request you to accept me too as your family member and shower your love and affection on me,’ said Priyanka while addressing the thousands who had gathered for the road show and the subsequent public meeting.

Wayanad saw an unprecedented turn out by Congressmen as well as Muslim League workers. If the crowd which had gathered for the road rally and public rally is any indication, Priyanka is certain to win by a majority much bigger than what her brother had registered in the May 2014 election.

She said when the whole world had turned against her brother, it was the people of Wayanad who stood with him and supported him to the hilt. ‘Though my brother resigned  as a member of Wayanad constituency, our association will continue through me and I’ll fight for your rights and requirements. Your resilience is worthy of praise and should be a role model to the rest of the world,’ she said, referring to the natural disaster in July 2024 that devastated many regions in the constituency.

Making a passionate plea to the voters of Wayanad to ensure his sister wins the race, Rahul Gandhi said that with Priyanka Vadra joining  him in Parliament, the Constituency would have two  representatives.

‘Priyanaka will be your official representative while I would be your unofficial representative. She is the best candidate Wayanad can get because of her selfless service, dedication and devotion. She was born to serve and love the people. It was she who took care of our mother when our father died in a terrorist attack. She consoled, comforted and cared for our mother though he was just 17,’ reminiscence Rahul Gandhi which made the gathering turn sombre for a few moments.

After filing the nomination papers, Priyanka called on some of the disaster-struck villages and interacted with the survivors .

Navya Haridas, a young IT professional is the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate while Satyan Mokeri of the Communist Party of India (CPI), a seasoned politician is the candidate fielded by the Left Democratic Front (LDF).