Pilibhit: Can BJP capture the pocket borough of the other Gandhis?
Narendra Modi today addressed a rally in Pilibhit constituency in Western Uttar Pradesh, the pocket borough of Maneka Gandhi and her son, Varun. This will be the first time since 1989 when Maneka or Varun would not be contesting from Pilibhit. The BJP dropped its sitting Pilibhit MP, Varun, replacing him with UP minister Jitin Prasada, ostensibly for Varun's frequent defiance of the party in the past few years. The BJP, however, retained Maneka, who would contest from Sultanpur from where she won in 2019.
PM Modi's rally in Pilibhit, which goes to poll in the first phase on April 19, comes in the wake of reports of underlying quibbling amongst the party workers and supporters after Varun was denied the ticket. The speculation of Varun filing his papers as an independent candidate had gained ground after he issued an emotional letter to his constituents asserting that his relationship with them will remain intact “till his last breath”.
The district BJP unit was asked to pull out all stops to ensure maximum participation of party workers and supporters at Modi’s rally, TOI reported. Experts say the BJP seeks to stir up the campaign to counter the narrative of Jitin Prasada being an “outsider”. Modi’s initial rallies were being lined up keeping in mind constituencies where the party has replaced the sitting MP or on seats which the BJP had lost to the opposition in 2019.
The rally will boost Prasada's campaign who is seen as an outsider just as denial of ticket to Varun has ruffled many among the party cadre.
Pili
