With general elections underway, a question arises—will the Gandhi family unify after 40 years? Recently, Varun Gandhi has been a topic of heated discussion due to his candid remarks against the Yogi government in UP, leading to the BJP cutting his ticket from Pilibhit. Yet his mother, Maneka Gandhi, has once more been fielded from Sultanpur, sparking speculation on Varun's political future as he had already bought nomination papers and seemed fully prepared to contest the elections. Today's deadline for the first phase of nominations may clarify whether Varun will run from Pilibhit or not.
Renowned as the nation's largest political family, the Gandhis' reach extends beyond the Congress, deeply entrenched within the BJP as well. The Congress boasts the formidable trio of Sonia, Rahul, and Priyanka Gandhi, while the BJP has repeatedly elected Maneka Gandhi and her son Varun as MPs. With Varun now denied the ticket from Pilibhit, the Congress has extended an offer that has intensified the political rumor mill.
Discover the story of the night Maneka Gandhi left home with young Varun in her arms.
Political experts reflect on the struggle-defined life of Varun Gandhi. He encountered loss from an early age, losing his father Sanjay Gandhi at three months old, and facing family strife at two years that led to his departure with his mother from the family home. By the age of four, Varun experienced the loss of his grandmother Indira Gandhi. He entered politics at 29 and quickly became noted for his candor following his election win in Pilibhit.
How did one family split across two political poles?
The question looms: How did a single political family end up divided? What transpired on the fateful night of March 28, 1982, that split the country's most prominent political family? Rahul and Varun, once part of the same household, shared their childhood under one roof. Rahul, the son of Indira Gandhi's elder son, Rajiv, and Varun, the son of her younger son, Sanjay, both grew up in the familial abode.
Spanning decades, the tension between Maneka and Indira Gandhi, over numerous disputes, reached its zenith when Maneka decided to leave the prime ministerial residence on Safdarjung Road. It was the night of March 28, 1982, that would alter the family's trajectory forever. Coinciding with this moment of domestic strife was Sanjay Gandhi's death in a plane crash, months prior, and the subsequent transition of his political legacy to Rajiv. Notably, Khushwant Singh in his autobiography chronicled the disputes that ultimately rendered cohabitation under the same roof untenable.
Source: aajtak
The story of that fateful night...
This political family's schism and the events of that night 40 years ago, when Maneka Gandhi abruptly left Indira Gandhi's residence with two-year-old Varun, remains a mystery. It unfolded on March 28, 1982...
Spanish author Javier Moro, in his book 'The Red Sari,' describes how, following the plane crash that claimed Sanjay Gandhi, Indira started promoting the politically indifferent Rajiv into the political realm. The escalating dissatisfaction of Sanjay's widow, Maneka, with the political maneuvers and Indira's decision to not involve her in the government eventually ignited the explosive confrontation between the two.
Returning from a visit abroad on the morning of March 28, 1982, Indira confronted Maneka over her unauthorized political gathering in Lucknow. Eventually, an ultimatum was issued by Indira to Maneka to leave the residence immediately. The ensuing hours saw a crescendo of disagreements, culminating in Maneka's departure alongside her sister Ambika, with the media capturing every moment of this dramatic exit. The event made headlines nationwide the following morning.
Source: aajtak
Maneka's political journey began the following year with the establishment of the Rashtriya Sanjay Manch along with Akbar Ahmed Dumpy and other confidants of Sanjay Gandhi. In the 1984 general elections, she contested as an independent against Rajiv in Amethi but faced defeat. She later joined the Janata Dal in 1988, became an MP from Pilibhit in 1989, suffered defeat in 1991, and secured victories in subsequent elections.
Maneka's Political Path with BJP
Maneka's affiliation with the BJP began in 2004, marking the start of her subsequent electoral successes. In parallel, Varun's political career saw a swift rise within the BJP. However, recent times have highlighted a growing tension between Varun and the BJP, with speculations about him joining Congress.
Why are there speculations about Varun joining Congress?
After BJP did not repeat Varun's candidacy from Pilibhit, Congress extended an offer. Congress senior leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury suggested that Varun, being an influential and competent leader, should join Congress. The snub from BJP, presumed to be due to his Gandhi lineage, has fueled this conjecture. BJP, having chosen Jitin Prasada for Pilibhit, now casts Varun's fate into uncertainty.
Source: aajtak
Amidst these developments, Varun feels slighted by the BJP's dismissal and may choose not to contest at all. He reportedly prepared for the election from Pilibhit, but with the recent developments, his next move remains undisclosed as he hasn't given any official statement about it yet.
