JOIN USA move within the BJP to induct Varun Gandhi in party president Rajnath Singh’s team is facing resistance from a section of the party, given his attitude problems.
The move, aimed at reaping political mileage out of his young and dynamic image in Uttar Pradesh, is expected to be announced in a week.
Party sources said that Pilibhit MP Varun Gandhi, recently acquitted in two hate speeches cases registered in the UP prior to last 2009 general elections, is slated to be elevated as general secretary in the BJP but some leaders are reluctant as he is not seen as a person respectful to seniors in a cadre-based party.
Gandhi, allegedly fickle-minded, a streak seemingly inherited from his late father Sanjay Gandhi, is otherwise being considered crucial for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. This is because he is from the ‘Gandhi family’ and can also be of used to infuse young blood in the Uttar Pradesh leadership among veterans like Mulri Manohar Joshi, Lalji Tandon and Kalraj Mishra, feels the party.
Varun, 33, is a member of the BJP national executive and party’s national secretary. He has been keeping low profile to apparently offset the charges leaders are making against him.
He is also believed to be interested in changing his constituency from Pillibhit to Sultanpur, presently represented by Congress MP Sanjay Singh.
Though there has been consensus achieved on the list which would be made official soon, party sources said that Amit Shah, who figures as accused in fake encounter cases of Gujarat, is unlikely to find his way into the central leadership.