Former minister and BJP candidate for Sultanpur Lok Sabha seat, Maneka Gandhi discussed the absence of a ticket for her son Varun Gandhi, asserting his excellent performance regardless. She is confident about Varun's future prospects, undeterred by his current electoral situation. On Varun’s potential campaign efforts in Sultanpur, Gandhi mentions that no decision has been made so far. In conversation with PTI, she predicts a grand victory for BJP and a sustained government at the center. It’s noteworthy that Sultanpur is slated for voting in the sixth phase on May 25, whereas Pilibhit has already cast its votes on April 19.
Maneka Gandhi, when asked about why Varun Gandhi wasn't given a ticket, hinted that his stance expressed through articles on certain government policies could be a motive for his ticket cancellation. 'No other reason is evident,' she remarked, asserting Varun's capability to excel without the ticket. In a special interview with PTI at her residence, the former central minister and BJP candidate from Sultanpur stated that Varun Gandhi's presence for campaigning in Sultanpur remains undecided.
On her reaction as a mother to Varun’s ticket denial, Gandhi said, 'I cannot claim to be joyous, but I am sure Varun will perform exceedingly well even without the ticket.' When asked whether she should have been re-nominated from Pilibhit, she responded, 'Yes, it should have happened but the party has made its decision.'.
Discussing Varun Gandhi's electoral future in Sultanpur or his commitment to Pilibhit, Gandhi affirmed, 'Certainly, Pilibhit and the whole of India are his field of endeavor; let him work anywhere.'.
Maneka Gandhi also targeted Congress leader Sam Pitroda for raising the issue of inheritance tax, deeming it inappropriate for him to do so from America. She expressed her personal opposition to the inheritance tax and addressed PM Narendra Modi’s claims on asset distribution, stating Modi was merely reacting to Sam Pitroda’s comments.
BJP has fielded Jitin Prasada, Uttar Pradesh's Public Works Minister, from Pilibhit in place of Varun Gandhi. On not receiving the nomination, MP Varun Gandhi penned an emotional letter to his constituents, professing a lasting relationship until his last breath. Since 1996, the Pilibhit seat has alternated between Maneka Gandhi and her son. Maneka Gandhi first won the seat in 1989 with the Janata Dal, was defeated in 1991, but claimed victory again in 1996. She won as an independent candidate in 1998 and 1999, and as a BJP candidate in 2004 and 2014. Varun Gandhi secured the seat as a BJP candidate in 2009 and 2019.
