BJP Drops Varun Gandhi from Pilibhit, Fielding Jitin Prasada Instead

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has made a significant move by not fielding Varun Gandhi from the Pilibhit seat in Uttar Pradesh for the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections 2024. Instead, the party has chosen Uttar Pradesh minister Jitin Prasada to contest from this important constituency.

Pilibhit, a key Lok Sabha constituency in Uttar Pradesh, has a long association with the Gandhi family. It has been represented by either Varun Gandhi or his mother, Maneka Gandhi, for over two decades.

Varun Gandhi, a prominent figure in the BJP, had first won the Pilibhit seat in the 2009 Lok Sabha Elections. After a stint by Maneka Gandhi in 2014, Varun Gandhi reclaimed the seat in the 2019 polls.

Speculation was rife before the BJP’s fifth candidate list announcement whether Varun Gandhi would consider running as an independent candidate if not given a BJP ticket for Pilibhit. However, on March 20, the Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party named Bhagwat Sharan Gangwar as its candidate for Pilibhit.

Earlier this month, reports surfaced that Varun Gandhi’s representatives procured nomination papers for the Pilibhit seat in Uttar Pradesh, indicating his readiness to contest independently if needed.

Varun Gandhi has been vocal on various issues, including agriculture, job creation, and healthcare. He recently shared a platform with BJP leaders and lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi, indicating his alignment with the party’s agenda.