BJP keen to pit Varun Gandhi against Gandhis in Rae Bareli battle

LUCKNOW: Amid buzz of BJP pushing for the candidature of Varun Gandhi from Rae Bareli, sources in the party have confirmed that an internal survey was done recently to draw a consensus on the party nominee who can challenge the Congress and Gandhis in their pocket borough.
Both BJP and Congress are yet to declare the candidates for the high-profile seat which will go to polls in the fifth phase on May 20.The last day for filing nominations is May 3.
Sources said the survey was done by BJP’s incumbent and former district level public representatives (MLAs), district office bearers and zila/block level functionaries. While BJP has kept survey findings under wraps, sources said names of a few “influential” BJP leaders cropped up. A senior BJP functionary said the survey also explored the possibility of propping “a face” who can nudge the Gandhi family which is taking all steps to retain the constituency after sitting MP Sonia Gandhi quit following her election to the Rajya Sabha from Rajasthan.
While speculations of Congress fielding Priyanka Gandhi Vadra are getting louder, BJP’s top leadership considered Varun Gandhi as a formidable option to set up a Gandhi versus Gandhi contest. Varun, however, is learnt to have been treading cautiously given his proximity to cousins Rahul and Priyanka. BJP has denied ticket to him from Pilibhit and replaced him with UP minister Jitin Prasada – a move seen as a culmination of his defiance against the saffron dispensation.
BJP district president Buddhi Lal Pasi said the survey main purpose was to zero in on the most suitable candidate. “It is part of the organizational activity. We had received inputs on prospective candidates,” he said. Sources said a section of BJP in Rae Bareli wants UP minister Dinesh Pratap Singh to be fielded again. Singh defected from the Congress to BJP before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and contested against Sonia Gandhi. He had polled 3.67 lakh votes though lost by 1.67 lakh votes. A BJP politician said Dinesh wields influence at the level of gram panchayats but voters at that level are often divided which could pose a problem to BJP’s prospects. Nevertheless, his candidature is also being explored.
Of the five assembly segments in Rae Bareli BJP won only one in 2022 elections. Unchahar’s SP MLA Manoj Pandey cross voted in favour of the BJP during the Rajya Sabha elections. Since then his name is also doing the rounds.