The Kerala High Court has sought a formal response from Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra regarding a petition that challenges her election to the Lok Sabha from the Wayanad constituency during the 2024 bypoll.
Petition Filed by BJP Candidate Navya Haridas
Justice K Babu issued the notice to Vadra based on a petition filed by her former electoral opponent, BJP’s Navya Haridas.
In the plea, Haridas alleges that Vadra failed to accurately disclose details of her and her family’s assets in her nomination papers. The BJP leader contends that this constitutes a violation of the Model Code of Conduct and qualifies as a “corrupt practice” under the Representation of the People Act.
Haridas, who secured 3rd place in the bypoll, confirmed that the court has admitted the petition and formally issued a notice to the Congress leader. The matter is now scheduled for its next hearing in August.
Accusations Of Misleading The Electorate
The petition accuses Vadra of “suppressing vital information about the various assets owned by her and her family” and of “misguiding, misinforming and keeping the voters in the dark with the intention of influencing their choice.”
Haridas is seeking the nullification of Vadra’s electoral win on the grounds that voters were allegedly deprived of critical information necessary to make an informed choice. The plea asserts that the inaccurate disclosure was deliberate and aimed at securing an unfair advantage in the election.
Wayanad Bypoll
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra contested her first-ever election from Wayanad in the bypoll held on November 13, 2024, following her brother Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification. She registered a sweeping victory, receiving 6,22,338 votes. In contrast, Haridas managed to secure only 1,09,939 votes, placing third in the contest.
Despite the wide margin, Haridas argues that the integrity of the election process must be upheld, and any alleged violations must be scrutinized regardless of the final vote tally.
With the notice now served, Vadra is expected to file her response before the Kerala High Court. The court will take up the matter for further hearing in August.
The case adds a fresh layer of political and legal scrutiny to Priyanka Gandhi’s electoral debut, which had been widely celebrated by the Congress as a significant milestone.
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