‘If not as an MP then as a son…’: Varun Gandhi pens emotional note to Pilibhit
The BJP chose to drop him this time and instead allotted to ticket to Jitin Prasada, a former Congress leader who joined the BJP in 2021
After being denied ticket by the BJP for 2024 Lok Sabha elections, sitting Pilibhit MP Varun Gandhi has penned an emotional note to the people of his constituency to say that “even though my tenure is coming to an end...my relationship (with you) cannot end till my last breath”.
In his letter, a copy of which he had posted on his official X handle, Varun said, “Being your representative has been the greatest honour of my life, and I have always championed your interests to the best of my ability.” The BJP leader said he considered himself fortunate to have had the opportunity to “serve the great people of Pilibhit”, and that their “ideals, simplicity, and kindness... had a huge contribution in my upbringing and development”.
“If not as an MP then as a son, I am committed to serve you throughout my life and my doors will always remain open for you... as before. I came into politics to raise the voice of the common man, and today I seek your blessings to always continue doing this work, no matter the cost,” he added.
Going down the memory lane, a nostalgic Varun recalled his introduction to Pilibhit as a three-year-old boy visiting the constituency with his mother, Maneka Gandhi, in 1983. “I remember that three-year-old boy who came to Pilibhit for the first time in 1983, holding his mother's finger. How could he know that one day this land would become his workplace, and the people here would become his family?”
“The relationship between Pilibhit and me is one of love and trust... which is far above any political multiplication. I was, am, and will be yours.” he signed off.
Falling out of favour
Varun is a two-time MP from Pilibhit, which has been a family bastion since the late 1980s when it was for the first time by his mother Maneka in 1989. She had won the seat for six times, including two successive triumphs as an independent candidate.
In the 2019 election Varun defeated Hemraj Verma of the Samajwadi Party by more than 2.55 lakh votes. However, the BJP chose to drop him this time and instead allotted to ticket to Jitin Prasada, a former Congress leader who joined the BJP in 2021.
Varun reportedly fell out of favour with the BJP's leadership when he criticised the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh on several occasions. He also slammed the BJP regime at the Centre in September last year over the import of cheetahs from Africa. Back in 2021, the BJP dropped Varun and Maneka Gandhi from the 80-member National Executive over his tweets on the Lakhimpur Kheri violence.
