JOIN USBJP’s firebrand leader Varun Gandhi on Thursday vowed “not to cross the lines of political decency” by saying that he will not campaign against estranged cousin Rahul and aunt Sonia.
Varun will neither campaign at Amethi nor at Rae Bareli, the Lok Sabha constituencies of Rahul and Sonia respectively.
Varun, who has been campaigning in Sultanpur, the Lok Sabha constituency neighbouring Amethi, for the past few days, said on Thursday that he believed in “political decency” and that he would never “cross the line”.
“I fully understand what political decorum is and will always abide by it,” he said.
He also said during his campaigning elsewhere that he would not say anything against Sonia and Rahul.
Though Varun is yet to be declared the BJP’s candidate from Sultanpur, he has dropped enough hints that he will be contesting from the constituency.
In the 2009 Lok Sabha polls, Varun had been elected from the Pilibhit constituency. His mother Maneka Gandhi was an MP from Aonla.
Change of tone
The young BJP leader’s remarks were in sharp contrast to his comments made during his previous visit to Sultanpur when at a rally he had virtually attacked Rahul.
“Why this region (Sultanpur) lacks development and only Amethi, Saifai, Kannauj are developing,” he had then asked, apparently taking a dig at Samajwadi Party leaders and his cousin Rahul.
Sultanpur is nestled between Raebareli and Amethi. Before being declared a separate district, Amethi was part of Sultanpur district.
“I am related to this region by blood. I am here to shoulder your (people) burden, pains and sufferings,” he said as he questioned the lack of development in the region.
Now it remains to be seen whether Rahul will return the compliment, too, and avoid campaigning in Sultanpur.