Speculation abounds as Varun Gandhi, the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) from Pilibhit, was notably absent from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's election meeting in Pilibhit, prompting discussions about his relationship with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Varun Gandhi has represented the constituency for two terms in the Lok Sabha, while his mother, Maneka Gandhi, has won from Pilibhit for six terms. However, this time, the party chose to field Jitin Prasada instead of Varun, with Maneka contesting from the Sultanpur Lok Sabha seat, where she previously won in the 2019 elections on a BJP ticket.
Speculation over Varun's attendance at the PM's rally began early in the day, but his supporters clarified that he was out of town with no scheduled visit. "Varun was not invited to this rally. He cannot share the dais with the Prime Minister unless officially invited. The party leadership ignored him, and he chose to stay back," remarked Sanjay Agnihotri, a supporter of Varun Gandhi, to Moneycontrol.
Notably, alongside Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and BJP state unit president Bhupendra Chaudhary, Pilibhit's BJP candidate Jitin Prasada and MP from Bareilly Santosh Gangwar, who was denied a ticket, were present on the dais, alongside Bareilly's current candidate Chhatrapal Gangwar.
Agnihotri questioned the party's decision, stating, "If Santosh Gangwar could be invited, why was Varun ignored?"
Neeraj Gangwar, another BJP worker asked party should clarify whether Varun is still in BJP or not. “Varun was a decent leader who understood problems of the people. Many people voted for BJP only because of Varun,” he said.
Leaders from BJP's Pilibhit unit clarified that neither Maneka Gandhi nor Varun Gandhi were listed as star campaigners for the Lok Sabha elections. They were not invited to campaign for party candidates in the eight seats, including Pilibhit, scheduled for polling in the first phase on April 19.
Pilibhit has remained under the influence of Maneka Gandhi or her son Varun since 1996. Varun secured victory in 2009 and 2019 as a BJP candidate, winning by significant margins.
Varun Gandhi, known for championing issues concerning farmers, youths, and unemployment, has occasionally diverged from the party line. His vocal criticism of the suspension of Sanjay Gandhi Hospital's license in Amethi and his stance on various issues have drawn attention.
Akhilesh Yadav, the chief of the Samajwadi Party, had offered Varun a ticket after he was denied one by the BJP.
In an emotional letter addressed to the constituents, Varun Gandhi reminisced about his childhood memories in the region, expressing how the land had become not only his workplace but also an integral part of his identity, with its people forming a crucial aspect of his life's journey.
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