Varun Gandhi
Lucknow: More than two years after he was sidelined by the BJP and denied a ticket in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, former party MP Varun Gandhi may be on the cusp of an unexpected political revival. Following the deaths of protesting farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri on Oct 3, 2021, Varun strongly condemned the incident and demanded action against party colleague and then Union minister Ajay Mishra Teni. Following more than a year of intense protests by farming unions at Delhi’s borders, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a surprise announcement on Nov 19, 2021, declaring that govt would repeal the three legislations. Varun was subsequently denied a ticket to contest from Pilibhit, the constituency which he had won twice — first in 2009 and then in 2019. BJP, instead, fielded Jatin Prasada, a former Congressman, who eventually defeated his nearest rival, Bhagwat Saran Gangwar of Samajwadi Party, by a margin of over 1.64 lakh votes. BJP high command offered him the chance to contest from the high-profile Rae Bareli seat against his cousin Rahul Gandhi in 2024, according to a few unconfirmed reports.
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Varun had fallen out of BJP’s favour after he started consistently and publicly criticising BJP and Modi govt between late 2021 and 2023 over a wide range of economic, agrarian and administrative policies.
On Oct 21, 2021, he shared a vintage video of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee warning against the “repression” of farmers as a lesson for the central govt. He questioned why govt expected a “thank you” for giving 5 kg of free ration to the poor while simultaneously writing off Rs 10 lakh crore in bad loans for corrupt corporate defaulters over five years. Rather than a standard political opposition, his criticism was largely delivered through veiled salvos on social media, critical columns and public addresses in his constituency of Pilibhit. BJP sources recalled how Gandhi openly empathised with the farmers who were protesting against the three controversial agri-laws. When PM targeted opposition parties for offering electoral freebies, Varun publicly challenged this stance on X.
As many as 10 Rajya Sabha seats from UP are falling vacant on Nov 25. Meeting you further reinforces the conviction that you are a true guardian of the nation and its people,” Varun tweeted on March 17, posting a picture of him and his family meeting Modi. He also wished PM Modi on his birthday on Sept 17, saying: “A life dedicated to the service of the nation.
A senior BJP functionary affirmed that Varun could be one of the contenders for a Rajya Sabha seat for which elections are slated next month. Sources indicate that not just a Rajya Sabha seat but something more could be in store for Varun who, otherwise, has been keeping a low profile for the past two years. The buzz around his possible rehabilitation comes nearly six months after Varun met Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with his family. “I had the privilege of meeting Prime Minister Shri @Narendramodi ji along with my family and receiving his blessings and guidance. Your aura radiates a remarkable sense of paternal affection and protective care. The meeting triggered speculation about whether the BJP-Varun relationship was entering a new phase. A day to express our collective gratitude. #HappyBdayPMModi ji”.