No Gandhi VS Gandhi contest in Rae Bareli
Varun Gandhi writes to BJP Chief, declines to contest
The
plans of BJP leadership to make a Gandhi vs Gandhi contest in Rae
Bareli went for a toss as three term party MP Varun Gandhi from UP
declined to enter the fray.
It is learnt that BJP president J P Nadda reported to have asked Varun Gandhi to contest from Rae Bareli against the Congress' likely candidate Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. The BJP is eyeing to win the seat after it was vacated by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi in 2024 and opted the Rajya Sabha route.
Nadda reported to have telephoned Varun Gandhi around ten days ago and urged Varun Gandhi to consider contesting from Rae Bareli. Varun Gandhi has been BJP MP for three terms but had been denied a ticket from Pilibhit this time and gave it to his mother Maneka Gandhi.
Varun Gandhi was sulking for being denied the ticket from Pilibhit. But the BJP leadership had other plans as it had been toying with the idea of fielding a Gandhi from Rae Bareli. The party leadership conducted many internal surveys to pick the suitable candidate including Uma Bharti, Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Patel, Keshav Prasad Mourya, Nupur Sharma and a couple of others. Finally, the party zeroed on Varun Gandhi who can tilt the election in its favour.
Accordingly, Nadda contacted Varun Gandhi with the offer. Varun Gandhi was given adequate time to consider the offer as the last date of filing nomination papers for Amethi/Rae Bareli is May 3. However, Varun Gandhi is reported to have written a letter to Nadda yesterday declining to contest against Priyanka Gandhi or Rahul Gandhi.
When
contacted, Varun Gandhi told Lokmat today, “Whatever discussions on
the issue took place between me and the top leadership of the party
are between me and them.” When pressed further, Varun Gandhi
confirmed saying, “The communications cannot be discussed in public
domain.”
