The senior Congress leader addressing the media here on Tuesday, alleged that Varun Gandhi has been denied a BJP ticket due to his connection with Gandhi’s family…reports Asian Lite News
Putting an end to all speculations in the political arena, BJP MP Varun Gandhi has opted out of the race for the Pilibhit Lok Sabha seat, which is scheduled to go to the polls in the first phase on April 19, 2024.
As the nominations for the Pilibhit seat closed on Wednesday, sources familiar with the matter revealed that Varun Gandhi will instead focus on campaigning for his mother, Maneka Gandhi, who is contesting the election from the Sultanpur Lok Sabha seat. Sultanpur is set to go to the polls in the sixth phase on May 25.
The BJP has denied Varun Gandhi a ticket from Pilibhit, sparking speculations that he may contest the 2024 Lok Sabha election as an independent candidate from the seat.
Meanwhile, speculations are rife about Varun Gandhi’s next move, as he remained unavailable for comments. Congress leader in the Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, offered Varun Gandhi to join the Congress on Wednesday. “He (Varun Gandhi) is a strong leader with a clean image, and he has a connection with the Gandhi family. This is why the BJP denied him a (Lok Sabha) ticket. I think he should join (Congress), we will be very happy,” said Chowdhury.
The BJP initially indicated that they may consider fielding him from Rae Bareli. However, Varun Gandhi was not willing to contest from that seat.
Earlier, Congress’ Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury extended an offer to the leader, asking him to join the party.
The senior Congress leader addressing the media here on Tuesday, alleged that Varun Gandhi has been denied a BJP ticket due to his connection with Gandhi’s family.
“He should come here. We would be happy. He is an educated man. He has a clean image. BJP denied him a ticket because he is related to the Gandhi family. I think he should come (to Congress),” the Congress leader said.
The BJP on Sunday announced its fifth list of 111 candidates for the Lok Sabha elections, dropping Varun Gandhi from the Pilibhit Lok Sabha constituency and retaining his mother, Maneka Gandhi from Sultanpur.
Uttar Pradesh Minister Jitin Prasada, who crossed over from the Congress to the BJP two years ago, was named the BJP’s candidate for Pilibhit Lok Sabha constituency.
Varun Gandhi, in his debut contest in 2009, won Pilibhit decisively with 4.19 lakh votes. His subsequent wins in 2014 and 2019 further cemented the family’s political dominance.
Prasada, who was a minister twice in the Manmohan Singh-led Congress government and was considered one of Rahul Gandhi’s top aides, had lost two Lok Sabha elections in 2014 and 2019 and was elected to the UP Legislative council in 2021.
Uttar Pradesh, which sends the maximum number of MPs, 80, to Parliament, will vote in all seven phases.
ALSO READ-Adhir Ranjan makes offer to Varun Gandhi