Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from Sultanpur, Maneka Gandhi has reacted to speculations that businessman Robert Vadra may contest in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Speaking to India TV, Maneka Gandhi took a jibe at Robert Vadra saying that the country has moved forward from son-in-laws. Robert Vadra is the husband of Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.
On Varun Gandhi not being fielded by the BJP, Maneka Gandhi said she won't comment on the party's decision.
In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Varun Gandhi contested from Uttar Pradesh's Pilibhit seat.
Maneka Gandhi won the seat on a Janata Dal ticket in 1989, lost in 1991 and won again in 1996. She won from the constituency again in 1998 and 1999 as an Independent candidate. She won the seat in 2004 and 2014 as a BJP candidate.
She is seeking reelection from Sultanpur which she won as BJP candidate in 2019.
Varun Gandhi won the seat in 2009 and 2019 as a BJP candidate.
Baburam Lodhi, a local village head, said, "Varun Gandhi's connection with Pilibhit is very old and deep. This bond was reflected in the emotional letter he wrote after being denied nomination from the seat."
Varun Gandhi wrote an emotional letter to the people of his constituency in which he asserted that his relationship with them would remain intact till his last breath. The incumbent MP asserted that his relationship with Pilibhit is one of love and trust which is far above any political calculations.
Though Jitin Prasada, who has been fielded by the BJP from Pilibhit, claims to have the full support of the party organisation, but locals claim those close to Varun are not happy with the BJP's decision. Prasada has so far remained tight-lipped on the issue.
At public meetings, he describes himself as an ambassador of Modi and seeks votes in the prime minister's name.
In a show of support for Prasada, BJP MLAs under Pilibhit Lok Sabha constituency -- Sanjay Gangwar, Baburam Paswan, Vivek Verma and Swami Prakhashanand -- were proposers in his nomination papers.
With inputs from PTI
ALSO READ | 'Whoever poses threat to society, their 'Ram Naam Satya' is certain', warns UP CM Yogi Adityanath | VIDEO
