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Pilibhit, a significant Lok Sabha constituency in Uttar Pradesh, has long been a stronghold for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), often featuring a member of the Gandhi family against Congress.
However, the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in 2024 mark a notable departure from this trend. For the first time since 1989, neither Varun Gandhi nor Maneka Gandhi, prominent members of the Gandhi family, are contesting from Pilibhit. On March 27, the deadline for nominations, Varun Gandhi, the incumbent MP, chose not to file his nomination papers, dispelling speculations about an independent candidacy after being denied a ticket by the BJP.
In a strategic move, the BJP nominated Jitin Prasada, a former Congress leader who switched sides in 2021, to contest from Pilibhit, replacing Varun Gandhi, the son of Maneka Gandhi and the late Sanjay Gandhi.
Prasada submitted his nomination papers on March 27, accompanied by his ministerial colleague Swatantra Dev Singh and party state president Bhupendra Chaudhary.
Varun Gandhi’s omission from the ticket did not surprise many, given his recent criticisms of the BJP on various issues such as farmers’ welfare, healthcare, and employment.
In contrast, Varun’s mother, Maneka Gandhi, the incumbent MP from Sultanpur, secured another opportunity to contest from the same seat under the BJP banner.
Since 1996, either Maneka Gandhi or Varun Gandhi has represented the Pilibhit constituency. Their electoral success spanned various affiliations, from Janata Dal to Independent to BJP.
In the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in 2024, the BJP backs Prasada, while the Bahujan Samaj Party nominated Anis Ahmad Khan as its candidate. The Samajwadi Party fielded Bhagwat Saran Gangwar as its contender, supported by the Congress as part of the I.N.D.I.A bloc seat-sharing agreement.
Following his denial of a ticket, Varun Gandhi penned an emotional letter to the people of Pilibhit, expressing gratitude for their support and emphasizing his enduring connection with the region.
The Pilibhit Lok Sabha constituency comprises five assembly seats, with four currently held by the BJP. Voting in Pilibhit is scheduled for April 19 as part of the first phase of polling.
