Another Gandhi rises through the ranks in India

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra wins parliamentary seat, giving Congress a shot in the arm

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra addresses a rally in May. Though Vadra kept a low profile for years, she would step in to help rally Congress supporters when called upon. © Getty Images

NEETA LAL, Contributing writer

November 29, 2024 11:03 JST

NEW DELHI -- Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's resounding by-election win in the Wayanad district of Kerala state last weekend has energized an opposition Indian National Congress party, keenly awaiting the electoral debut of the 52-year-old heir to the country's Nehru-Gandhi dynasty.

Her triumph marks a historic moment. For the first time in decades, all three members of the Nehru-Gandhi family -- including her mother, Sonia Gandhi, and brother Rahul -- are parliamentarians across India's upper and lower houses.