The Pilibhit seat in Uttar Pradesh's elective battle has turned into the spotlight. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ushered Jitin Prasada into the electoral fray by cutting Varun Gandhi's ticket. Amid speculation about Varun Gandhi's next move, the town's parliamentary pulse quickens. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh's CM Yogi Adityanath's rally in Pilibhit is trending, with eyes peeled for Varun Gandhi's appearance.
Political rumours swirl around whether Varun Gandhi will partake in today's critical rally, amid the BJP's biggest faces. The curiosity rises from the BJP nominating Jitin Prasada over him. Post-ticket cut, it was also speculated that Varun Gandhi might contest as an independent candidate.
Varun Gandhi purchased nomination forms in four sets, signaling potential candidacy. Conversely, Jitin Prasada kickstarted his campaign while Varun Gandhi draped himself in silence. His active social media presence around Pilibhit has abruptly ceased since March 28, leaving followers in suspense and speculation.
Last seen, Varun Gandhi addressed the people of Pilibhit via a heartfelt letter on March 28. Since then, the political silence on his social media stands out, especially as other BJP leaders prominently tout 'Modi's family' on their profiles—a phrase absent from Gandhi's.
Varun's silence leaves his supporters in Pilibhit puzzled. If he abstains from the party's public gatherings, it could send a negative message. Some posit that to mitigate potential fallout from Varun's ticket loss, the BJP may rally behind Maneka Gandhi's presence.
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Maneka Gandhi aimed to halt rebellion rumors by emphasizing their principled stance. She praised Varun as an exemplary MP and assured his future endeavors would benefit the country.
Polling in Pilibhit on April 19
The electorate in Pilibhit are set to cast their votes on April 19 for the first phase. In the 2019 elections, BJP's Varun Gandhi secured his parliamentary seat with a robust number of votes. Standing second was the Samajwadi Party's (SP) Hemraj Verma.
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Previously, Maneka Gandhi was elected from this seat in 2014, and has been contesting from here since 1989. For the first time since 1984, no member of the Gandhi family is contesting from Pilibhit.
