New Delhi: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was sworn in as a Member of Parliament (MP) in Lok Sabha on Thursday, marking her debut in Parliament. She was elected after winning the Wayanad by-election in Kerala, securing a massive victory with a margin of over four lakh votes. Her oath-taking ceremony was attended by her family, including mother Sonia Gandhi, brother Rahul Gandhi, husband Robert Vadra, and her children, Rehan and Miraya Vadra.
Dressed in a cream-coloured saree, Priyanka took the oath in Hindi, holding a copy of the Constitution, which she waved in the air during the ceremony. The event began after the Lok Sabha session started at 11 am. Many Congress leaders, including Mallikarjun Kharge, Ranjit Ranjan and Robert Vadra’s mother, were present in the gallery to witness the ceremony.
#WATCH | Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra takes oath as Member of Parliament in Lok Sabha
(Video source: Sansad TV/YouTube) pic.twitter.com/eaLJzpTY2y
— ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2024
Rousing welcome
Priyanka greeted Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla with folded hands after taking her oath. She also greeted the leaders in the opposition benches, including her brother and Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, with a similar gesture. Following the ceremony, she took her seat in the fourth row allocated to opposition MPs, while Rahul Gandhi sat in the front row.
Her arrival in the Lok Sabha was met with excitement, as Congress MPs and leaders like Misa Bharti, Deepender Hooda, and Shashi Tharoor greeted her warmly. Many took photos and selfies with her, reflecting the enthusiasm surrounding her entry into Parliament. After taking her oath, Priyanka also greeted senior leaders, including Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari, and other dignitaries present.
Gandhi family in Parliament
For the first time in India’s history, three members of the Gandhi-Nehru family are part of Parliament simultaneously. Rahul Gandhi serves as leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Sonia Gandhi represents the Rajya Sabha, and Priyanka Gandhi has now joined Lok Sabha for the first time.
Priyanka Gandhi formally entered active politics five years ago during the 2019 general elections but did not contest at that time. Since then, she has played a key role as Congress General Secretary, primarily managing the party’s affairs in Uttar Pradesh.
Uproar in Parliament
While Priyanka’s parliamentary journey began with celebrations, it was not without disruptions. Soon after the oath-taking ceremony, opposition MPs created a commotion in the House, forcing the speaker to adjourn the session till noon.
Apart from Priyanka, Congress leader Ravindra Basantrao Chavan, who won the Nanded Lok Sabha seat in Maharashtra, also took his oath on the same day. He took his oath in Marathi, marking his entry into Lok Sabha.
