Priyanka Gandhi's visit to Wayanad, Kerala, has been overshadowed by a series of unfortunate events, placing the Congress party on the defensive. The Wayanad constituency, which she represents in Parliament, is grappling with the distress of farmer suicides and allegations of unfulfilled promises, creating a challenging backdrop for her visit.
Adding to the complexity, the daughter-in-law of a deceased Congress leader and former District Congress Committee (DCC) treasurer, N.M. Vijayan, allegedly attempted suicide. Padmaja, Vijayan's daughter-in-law, was admitted to a private hospital after reportedly injuring her wrist. This drastic step came after she publicly accused the Congress party of failing to provide the promised financial aid to the family following Vijayan's death. Vijayan and his son allegedly died by suicide due to heavy debt accumulated from party activities.
Padmaja's accusations are centered on the claim that despite assurances from Congress leaders, the family has not received adequate financial assistance to settle their debts, which amount to over ₹2 crore. She stated that only ₹20 lakh has been settled so far. In a suicide note, Padmaja purportedly wrote, "Murderous Congress, here is one more victim for you". She also criticized the party for betraying the family and failing to honor its promises.
The Congress party has responded to these allegations with a mix of defensiveness and promises of action. Some leaders have questioned the clarity of the family's claims and the extent of the party's responsibility, while others have assured that the party is working to resolve the issue. N.D. Appachen, the Wayanad District Congress President, stated that the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) had provided ₹20 lakh to Padmaja and suggested that other political parties were manipulating the situation. KPCC President Sunny Joseph said the party has been helping Vijayan's family, but expressed doubt about meeting all their demands immediately, stating that the party's assistance was based on generosity, not a contractual obligation.
Adding to the Congress party's woes is the recent death of Jose Nelledam, a senior Congress leader and Mullankolly panchayat councillor, who was found dead in a pond near his house. Nelledam reportedly consumed poison and slit his wrist, and a video surfaced after his death in which he claimed he was being targeted with false accusations.
These incidents have provided ammunition for the Congress party's political rivals. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM) has criticized the Congress over its internal issues in Wayanad. Minister V. Sivankutty accused the Congress of becoming a "mafia" in Kerala, citing the deaths by suicide of Vijayan and Nelledam and Padmaja's suicide attempt.
The larger context of these events is the ongoing crisis of farmer suicides in India, particularly in states like Maharashtra. In the first three months of 2025, 767 farmers in Maharashtra died by suicide. Wayanad has also seen over 100 farmer suicides in the last 15 years, mainly linked to debt. Factors such as crop failure, falling prices, and mounting debts contribute to this distress. Strict guidelines from mainstream banks often prevent farmers from obtaining loans, forcing them to turn to private financiers and local moneylenders.
Priyanka Gandhi's visit to Wayanad, scheduled from March 27, includes participation in a series of programs and events. She is expected to address local issues, including human-animal conflict and development concerns. The Wayanad Chamber of Commerce also plans to seek her support for key infrastructure projects. However, the recent suicides and allegations of betrayal have created a politically charged atmosphere, forcing the Congress party to address the immediate crisis while attempting to maintain its standing in the constituency. Protests have already erupted in Wayanad following the suicide attempt. The Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) activists marched to the office of Kalpetta MLA T. Siddique.
