Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is the daughter of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi and granddaughter of the country's former leader Indira Gandhi. EPA
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is the daughter of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi and granddaughter of the country's former leader Indira Gandhi. EPA
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is the daughter of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi and granddaughter of the country's former leader Indira Gandhi. EPA
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is the daughter of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi and granddaughter of the country's former leader Indira Gandhi. EPA

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to contest first parliamentary election


Taniya Dutta
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Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, the daughter and granddaughter of former Indian prime ministers, will contest her first parliamentary election as a candidate of the Indian National Congress.

Ms Gandhi Vadra, 52, has been an active leader of the Congress, the main opposition party in the country, for more than two decades.

She is standing for election from Wayanad constituency, in the southern state of Kerala, after her brother Rahul Gandhi vacated the seat, party president Mallikarjun Kharge said on Monday.

"I am very happy to be able to represent Wayanad. All I'll say is that I won't let them feel his [Mr Gandhi's] absence. I will work hard and try my best to make everybody happy and be a good representative," Ms Gandhi Vadra said.

Mr Gandhi contested the recent parliamentary elections from Wayanad and Rae Bareilly, the family bastion in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, and won both seats.

He has chosen to represent Rae Bareilly in the Lok Sabha, the lower house of Parliament. This means there will be a by-election in Wayanad.

Rae Bareilly has been the constituency of his mother, Sonia Gandhi, since 2004. She vacated the seat in February and was nominated to the upper house of Parliament.

Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra arrive for a meeting in New Delhi. Reuters
Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra arrive for a meeting in New Delhi. Reuters

Ms Gandhi Vadra has been a formidable campaigner for her brother, mother and other Congress party leaders. She is the younger child of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, who was assassinated in 1991.

Ms Gandhi Vadra's grandmother, Indira Gandhi, was India's first and so far only female prime minister, and the daughter of Jawaharlal Nehru, the country's first prime minister.

Ms Gandhi Vadra, who is married to businessman Robert Vadra, formally entered politics in 2019, when she was appointed general secretary for Uttar Pradesh in Congress’s central decision-making assembly.

India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party criticised the Congress for nominating Ms Gandhi Vadra to contest the Wayanad by-election, saying the party is engaging in dynasty politics. If Ms Gandhi Vadra wins, she will serve in Parliament alongside her mother and brother.

BJP leader Rajeev Chandrasekhar used X to accuse the Gandhi family of "shamelessly hiding the fact that Rahul was contesting from another constituency".

The BJP has often made accusations of dynastic politics against the Congress. The party governed India for more than six decades after it gained independence in 1947, but had been in decline since the Hindu nationalist BJP stormed to power in 2014.

The Congress won 99 seats in the recent parliamentary elections, despite being written off by critics and political experts. The Congress-led INDIA alliance won 234 seats overall.

The BJP secured 240 seats, short of the 272 needed for a majority. The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance won 293 seats to ensure Prime Minister Narendra Modi remained in office for a third consecutive term.

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Milestones on the road to union

1970

October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar. 

December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.

1971

March 1:  Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.

July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.

July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.

August 6:  The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.

August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.

September 3: Qatar becomes independent.

November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.

November 29:  At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.

November 30: Despite  a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa. 

November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties

December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.

December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.

December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.

UAE%20medallists%20at%20Asian%20Games%202023
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Explainer: Tanween Design Programme

Non-profit arts studio Tashkeel launched this annual initiative with the intention of supporting budding designers in the UAE. This year, three talents were chosen from hundreds of applicants to be a part of the sixth creative development programme. These are architect Abdulla Al Mulla, interior designer Lana El Samman and graphic designer Yara Habib.

The trio have been guided by experts from the industry over the course of nine months, as they developed their own products that merge their unique styles with traditional elements of Emirati design. This includes laboratory sessions, experimental and collaborative practice, investigation of new business models and evaluation.

It is led by British contemporary design project specialist Helen Voce and mentor Kevin Badni, and offers participants access to experts from across the world, including the likes of UK designer Gareth Neal and multidisciplinary designer and entrepreneur, Sheikh Salem Al Qassimi.

The final pieces are being revealed in a worldwide limited-edition release on the first day of Downtown Designs at Dubai Design Week 2019. Tashkeel will be at stand E31 at the exhibition.

Lisa Ball-Lechgar, deputy director of Tashkeel, said: “The diversity and calibre of the applicants this year … is reflective of the dynamic change that the UAE art and design industry is witnessing, with young creators resolute in making their bold design ideas a reality.”

Groom and Two Brides

Director: Elie Semaan

Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla

Rating: 3/5

UAE%20SQUAD
%3Cp%3E%0DJemma%20Eley%2C%20Maria%20Michailidou%2C%20Molly%20Fuller%2C%20Chloe%20Andrews%20(of%20Dubai%20College)%2C%20Eliza%20Petricola%2C%20Holly%20Guerin%2C%20Yasmin%20Craig%2C%20Caitlin%20Gowdy%20(Dubai%20English%20Speaking%20College)%2C%20Claire%20Janssen%2C%20Cristiana%20Morall%20(Jumeirah%20English%20Speaking%20School)%2C%20Tessa%20Mies%20(Jebel%20Ali%20School)%2C%20Mila%20Morgan%20(Cranleigh%20Abu%20Dhabi).%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
HEADLINE HERE
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Zimbabwe v UAE, ODI series

All matches at the Harare Sports Club:

1st ODI, Wednesday, April 10

2nd ODI, Friday, April 12

3rd ODI, Sunday, April 14

4th ODI, Tuesday, April 16

UAE squad: Mohammed Naveed (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Shaiman Anwar, Mohammed Usman, CP Rizwan, Chirag Suri, Mohammed Boota, Ghulam Shabber, Sultan Ahmed, Imran Haider, Amir Hayat, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed

Dubai Rugby Sevens

November 30-December 2, at The Sevens, Dubai

Gulf Under 19

Pool A – Abu Dhabi Harlequins, Jumeirah College Tigers, Dubai English Speaking School 1, Gems World Academy

Pool B – British School Al Khubairat, Bahrain Colts, Jumeirah College Lions, Dubai English Speaking School 2

Pool C - Dubai College A, Dubai Sharks, Jumeirah English Speaking School, Al Yasmina

Pool D – Dubai Exiles, Dubai Hurricanes, Al Ain Amblers, Deira International School

Updated: June 18, 2024, 12:31 PM