NEW DELHI: In a heartfelt letter addressed to the people of Wayanad, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday shared her experiences and aspirations as she made her electoral debut from the seat in Kerala. She began by recounting her visit to Chooramala and Mundakkai with her brother, Rahul Gandhi, where she witnessed the aftermath of a devastating landslide and the immense loss suffered by the community.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra expressed her admiration for the courage and fortitude displayed by the people of Wayanad in the face of tragedy.
“A few months back, I travelled to Chooramala and Mundakkai with my brother. I saw the devastation wrought by the landslide and the depth of the loss you suffered. I met children who had lost everyone they loved, mothers who were grieving for their children and families whose entire lives had been washed away by the rage of nature. Yet, through the darkness of the tragedy that befell you, what shone through to me was your immense courage and fortitude as a community,” she wrote in the letter.
Highlighted the unity and selflessness in Kerala, she said, “even in the helplessness of an overwhelming tragedy, you were cooperating, comforting one another and rising to the highest standards of humanity. Your brave spirit deeply touched me,” she wrote.
The Congress leader then shared the story when Rahul Gandhi asked her to represent Wayanad in parliament. She expressed her honour at the prospect of learning from the community, understanding their lives and challenges, and becoming a part of their courageous spirit. She also mentioned Rahul Gandhi’s pride in the values and culture of Wayanad, as well as his sadness at having to leave the constituency.
“You have given my brother your love, and I know he reciprocates it fully. When he asked me to be the congress candidate for Wayanad, he did it with a mixture of pride and sadness in his heart. Pride in your values, in your culture and in your genuinely deep bond with him and sadness for having to leave you. I promised him that my work here will serve to deepen this bond and that 1 will do all I can to fight for you and represent you in the way that you wish to be represented in Parliament,” she wrote.
Vadra pledged to work closely with the people of Wayanad to address their struggles, particularly those faced by the farming and tribal communities. She emphasised the importance of creating opportunities for women and celebrating the region’s natural beauty and resources. “I believe that protecting them and celebrating your culture of respect for the environment ought to be central to development here,” she said.
In conclusion, she expressed her eagerness to engage with the people of Wayanad, listen to their views, and work together for their benefit. She reaffirmed her commitment to fighting for democracy, justice, and constitutional values, seeking the support of the constituents in her journey as a public representative.
“You will be my guides and teachers in this journey which (I hope) will be my first as a public representative but not my first as a public fighter! Fighting for democracy, for justice and for the values enshrined in our constitution is central to my life. look forward to carrying this battle for all our futures forward with your support and will be deeply grateful to you if you choose to make me your MP,” she wrote.