After a historic victory from Amethi and Bellary seats, Sonia Gandhi chose to vacate the Amethi seat. However, it was the southern states that propelled the Congress party to new political heights. In 2004, after a decade-long political exile, Sonia Gandhi successfully led the Congress back to power, and the southern states, particularly United Andhra Pradesh, played a crucial role in this triumph. Both in 2004 and 2009, the Congress formed the central government, a significant achievement that Sonia Gandhi earned with the support of southern India.
However, the political landscape took a sharp turn in 2014. Under Narendra Modi’s leadership, the Congress party was decimated in North India, losing its once impregnable strongholds. Even the Gandhi family’s political bastion, Amethi, crumbled as the Congress’ influence waned. The party fell below 50 seats and faced further defeats in 2019, when Rahul Gandhi lost the Amethi election to BJP’s Smriti Irani. However, in a strategic move, Rahul Gandhi also contested from Wayanad in Kerala, which not only saved him politically but also opened new opportunities for Congress in southern India.
Rahul’s decision to contest from Wayanad in 2019 and again in 2024 proved to be pivotal for the Congress party. His presence in Kerala revitalized the Congress, allowing it to sweep the state in 2019. The southern states, particularly Kerala, became a lifeline for the Congress during Modi’s era of dominance in the north. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Congress won 99 parliamentary seats, with a significant contribution from the southern states of Karnataka, Kerala, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu.
Sensing the importance of maintaining its stronghold in the south, the Congress made a bold move after Rahul Gandhi vacated the Wayanad seat. To continue its mission of strengthening ties with the southern electorate, the party fielded Priyanka Gandhi in the by-election. This strategic decision sends a clear message: the Congress is committed to keeping the South as a vital part of its political roadmap. By nominating Priyanka, the Congress aims to ensure that its grip on southern politics remains firm.
The Congress party views South India as a key to its survival in the national political landscape. With strong BJP roots in the North, the southern region offers Congress a secure route. Rahul Gandhi’s win from Wayanad and the successful Bharat Jodo Yatra, which began in Kanyakumari, have significantly bolstered Congress’ prospects in the region. The Yatra helped the party reconnect with southern voters, bringing Congress back into the political limelight.
Currently, the Congress holds power in Karnataka and Telangana, and it partners with the DMK in Tamil Nadu. The party is also working to establish stronger political roots in Andhra Pradesh. Priyanka Gandhi’s candidacy in Wayanad aligns with the Congress’ broader mission to solidify its base in southern states and prevent the region from being treated as a mere “stepney” for northern failures.
As Priyanka Gandhi steps into Wayanad, political analysts believe her leadership will further strengthen the Congress’ presence in South India, ensuring that the party continues to be a formidable force in the region’s politics.
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