Congressman Rahul Gandhi will give up his Wayanad seat in Kerala in favour of Rae Barelli in Uttar Pradesh. His sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will be making her electoral debut from Wayanad after he relinquishes his seat.

Following talks on the matter at his residence, the top brass of the Congress party made the announcement on Monday, according to Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge. In addition to Kharge and Rahul, the meeting was attended by Sonia Gandhi, the chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party, and K C Venugopal and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, the party general secretaries.

Additionally, this will be the first time that Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi, the three members of the Gandhi family, are in parliament together.

However, the BJP has criticized the Congress for the decision, claiming that it is an obvious example of dynastic politics in action. It demonstrates that the Congress is a family business rather than a political party, according to ruling party spokesman Shezad Poonawala.

When asked if Rahul had made up his mind to become the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, following the unanimous resolution from the Congress Working Committee encouraging him to do so, Kharge replied that a decision would be made shortly.

When asked if he had accepted the CWC decision to accept the LoP position, Rahul Gandhi responded, “But, ‘dhamki to dee hai as president of the party’ (he has given a threat as party president).”

Rahul Gandhi, while thanking the people of Wayanad for electing him again, said he will keep visiting the constituency and fulfil all the promises he has made to the people there.