Malappuram (Kerala), Nov 30: Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who arrived in Wayanad on Saturday for the first time after winning her first Lok Sabha poll from the Kerala constituency, said she would always be with its people, who gave her lots of love, affection, and support and raise her voice for them in the Parliament and all other forums.
At all four places she visited, she was received by a massive crowd which has now become a regular thing, each time she has visited the constituency, right from the time she filed her nomination. At her last public reception of the day, which began with her roadshow at Edavanna – where she expressed her gratitude to the people for the biggest lead, she began her address by saying that she wants to thank all from the deepest part of her heart for the love and affection that they have given her.
“I have come here for two days just to go around my constituency to say thanks to all of you. No matter how many times I say thank you, I know it’s not enough. You stood with my brother at his most difficult time. You gave him support and comfort. So I thank him also for trusting me and choosing me to stand here. He respects all of you deeply,” Priyanka Gandhi said.
“In the fight to protect our Constitution, the people of Wayanad have stood for what’s right. You have raised your voice again and again for the truth and I am proud and honoured to be your representative,” she added. Stressing the importance of constitutional values in building India, she said that the fight of the Congres and UDF is the “fight for the constitution and the soul of India”.
“It is the fight for equality for every single Indian citizen…it is a fight to strengthen the institutions that keep our constitution strong and our democracy alive…It is a fight of truth against lies…unity against divisiveness…equality of opportunities..” she said.
Priyanka Gandhi assured the people that she “will prove to you how an MP should work for the people and I know I am going to work hard to raise your voice in parliament and at all venues”.
“Because of the love you have given me, I will never waver on my path forward. We begin this journey together, it’s a journey filled with love from both sides. I have met lots of people, children, young and old and students. This is just the beginning I want to meet all of you come to your homes find out your problems and find a solution to your problems,” she said, highlighting the issues of tribal people, farmers, businessmen, shopkeepers, children, students, soccer players etc.
“I am going to work hard to understand your dreams and your hopes,” she promised. Priyanka Gandhi’s programme is planned in such a way that she will address a meeting at seven centres, one each in every Assembly segment of the constituency that spans the Kozhikode, Malappuram, and Wayanad districts.
On Saturday, she finished going around the Kozhikode and Malappuram districts and on Sunday she will address meetings at the Wayanad, Sulthan Bathery and Mananthavady Assembly constituencies and then return to Delhi. She is being accompanied by her brother and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi who also addressed the meetings. Earlier in the day soon after arriving at the Kozhikode airport, Priyanka Gandhi told the media that she was happy to be back.
“I am really happy to be back and am ready to start work for the people of Wayanad to help them to have a better life,” she said. Priyanka Gandhi clinched her electoral victory in the Wayanad Lok Sabha bypoll with a commanding margin of 4,10,931 votes.
Incidentally, she bettered the victory margin of 3.60 lakh votes of her brother Rahul Gandhi, which he got in the April Lok Sabha polls, but fell short of his margin of 4.30 lakh votes which he won in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The bypoll was necessitated after Rahul Gandhi vacated the seat earlier this year to retain the family’s UP pocket borough of Rae Bareli. Her debut as an elected representative is seen as a pivotal step in solidifying the Congress’ presence in Kerala and revitalising the party’s fortunes nationally.
IANS