Thiruvananthapuram: Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who won her debut election from Kerala’s Wayanad constituency, is looking to buy a house in Wayanad to spend more time in her constituency.
Multiple Congress functionaries from Wayanad told ThePrint that Priyanka is interested in buying a property and shifting to the district, though security concerns are posing a huge challenge.
“The team is looking for a place that is easily accessible and has road infrastructure on all sides,” a functionary told ThePrint, adding that the district’s history of Maoist activities was a concern for her security, and the team has already looked into three properties.
The first-time MP is currently visiting her constituency.
Priyanka, the functionary said, is actively trying to learn Malayalam with the help of language trainers.
The move is happening when the critics are often targeting her for her absence from Wayanad, a criticism that was also faced by her brother, Rahul Gandhi.
The constituency is often called ‘home’ by the Gandhi family since Rahul’s first victory from there in 2019. In the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, Rahul said he had asked his mother, Sonia, to stay in Wayanad for a month, but she wasn’t able to due to the humidity.
Another functionary confirmed to ThePrint that a decision is yet to be made, though work is happening on the ground.
“Earlier, she had said that she would take a house here and stay. We believe that it will happen. There are some actions in this regard. We are learning that they are looking for places,” the functionary said.
Priyanka won from Wayanad in the November 2024 by-election after her brother Rahul resigned from the seat, having won both Wayanad and Rae Bareli. She defeated Communist Party of India’s Sathyan Mokeri with a margin of 4,10,931 votes, 46,509 votes more than her brother in her debut elections.
Located in northern Kerala, Wayanad comprises Mananthavady, Sulthan Bathery, and Kalpetta segments. Nestled in the Western Ghats, Wayanad borders Karnataka and Tamil Nadu and is a popular tourist destination known for its hill stations.
However, it is also considered a backward district due to limited road accessibility. The district’s nearest medical college is located in Calicut, which can be reached after a three-hour journey through the Western Ghats, including a 14 km stretch through the Thamarassery mountain pass that often experiences traffic congestion. Apart from Calicut, the district can also be accessed by road from Kannur airport as well as from Bengaluru by road.
“She is interested, but there are difficulties in getting clearance. There were Maoist issues here at least till a while ago. Though it’s mostly over, it’s not completely gone,” Lionel Mathew, president of the Indian Youth Congress, told ThePrint, adding that Priyanka stays in Wayanad whenever she comes to the constituency.
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The longest visit
Though Priyanka has visited the constituency several times since the election, her current visit is the longest, which involves interaction with her constituency directly, unlike her other visits, which often involve party events and public rallies.
According to party functionaries, Priyanka, who arrived 11 September, is expected to stay nearly 10 days in Wayanad.
In the last few days, the Congress MP has met with voters and prominent citizens, including Dr Arun Zachariah, chief veterinary surgeon at the Department of Forest and Wildlife; writer M.N. Karassery; Bishops at Thamarassery and Mananthavady; Islamic scholar Abdul Hakkim Azhari; and Padma Shri awardee Cheruvayal Raman, a tribal farmer known for preserving rare seeds.
വയനാടിനെ തൊട്ടറിഞ്ഞ് പ്രിയങ്ക ഗാന്ധി, പദ്മശ്രീ ചെറുവയൽ രാമനൊപ്പം അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ നെൽപ്പാടത്ത്! pic.twitter.com/ZFcespDcUJ
— Congress Kerala (@INCKerala) September 16, 2025
Her itinerary also includes a visit to Padnjarathara–Poozhithode, where a road project has been stalled for 31 years, the inauguration of drinking water projects, and an interaction with tribal workers at the Priyadarshini tea factory.
Congress General Secretary and Wayanad MP Smt. @priyankagandhi ji visited the Priyadarshini Tea factory in Mananthavady and interacted with the workers there.
📍Wayanad, Kerala pic.twitter.com/oImi7S6oQ4
— Congress (@INCIndia) September 15, 2025
The Congress district unit hopes that Priyanka’s presence will boost the party’s machinery ahead of the crucial local body and Assembly polls.
“Since elections are coming, Priyanka Gandhi’s presence is a big boost. Beyond politics, it also answers criticism of her absence from the constituency,” Lionel said, adding that such visits will continue at least until the Assembly elections are over.
Notably, Priyanka’s visit is also coming at a time when the Congress is facing a factional fight over the suspension of its Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil, who was accused of sexual abuse. The Wayanad unit is also on the back foot over the suicide of two of its functionaries, one of which happened last week over internal factions.
A constituency with strong Congress support, Wayanad first elected a member of the Gandhi family when Rahul contested in 2019. After resigning from Wayanad last year, Rahul introduced Priyanka to the constituency, addressing a mass public meeting where he said he would continue to be an ‘unofficial MP’ for the constituency along with his sister.
In her speech, Priyanka had said Wayanad was part of her family and promised to visit homes across the constituency to understand issues. “You stood by my brother when the whole world was turning its back against him. You gave him love, you gave him courage to fight. My whole family will always remain indebted to you,” she said, vowing to strengthen the bond between Wayanad and the Gandhi family.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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