Lok Sabha Election 2024: Maneka, Varun Gandhi skip PM Modi's first-ever rally in Pilibhit | Here's why?

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a rally in Uttar Pradesh's Pilibhit on Tuesday. He urged the citizens to extend their support to Jitin Prasada, the Public Works Minister of Uttar Pradesh and the BJP's candidate for the Lok Sabha seat from Pilibhit. The current Member of Parliament, Varun Gandhi, who was denied a party ticket from Pilibhit, and his mother, Maneka Gandhi, who is contesting the elections on a BJP ticket from Sultanpur, were not present at the event.

As per a report in Hindustan Times, leaders of the BJP's Pilibhit unit stated that both Maneka Gandhi, the party's MP from Sultanpur, and Varun Gandhi, the MP from Pilibhit, were not included in the list of star campaigners released by the party for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. They further mentioned that the duo had not been invited to participate in the campaign or events for party candidates contesting in the eight seats, including Pilibhit, which are scheduled for polling in the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections on April 19, the report added. After Varun Gandhi, a three-time MP from Pilibhit, was denied a BJP ticket for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, speaking to ANI, his mother Maneka Gandhi expressed confidence that Varun will continue contributing positively to the nation in the future.

"It's ultimately the party's decision. Varun has served as a commendable MP. Whatever path he chooses in life, he will continue to serve the country well," Maneka remarked.

This year, the BJP has fielded Jitin Prasada to contest from Pilibhit, replacing Varun Gandhi. Pilibhit's voting is scheduled for the first phase on April 19. Jitin Prasada previously won the Lok Sabha elections in 2004 on a Congress ticket from the Shahjahanpur constituency.