Varun Gandhi, a two-time Member of Parliament from Pilibhit Lok Sabha constituency, has distanced himself from his parliamentary turf after being denied ticket by the Bharatiya Janata Party.

His absence was conspicuous during Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s visit to Pilibhit on Tuesday, marking the first time he skipped such an event after BJP’s ticket decision.

The absence of a sitting MP during the chief minister’s address to the ‘Prabuddha Sammelan’ drew surprise from attendees, highlighting the unprecedented nature of the situation in Pilibhit. For the first time in 35 years, neither Varun Gandhi nor his mother, Maneka Gandhi, are contesting from the constituency traditionally considered their stronghold.

In a surprising move, the BJP has chosen the state Public Works Department Minister Jitin Prasada as Varun Gandhi’s replacement.

However, in response to this Varun Gandhi wrote an emotional open letter addressed to the constituents of his Lok Sabha constituency. In the letter, he reaffirmed his connection with the people of Pilibhit, recounting the nostalgic moment of a three-year-old child clutching his mother’s hand in the district.

Amidst speculations regarding Varun Gandhi’s return to Pilibhit for the election campaign of the BJP, hopes were high among local leaders and the public during the chief minister’s ‘Prabuddha Sammelan’ that he would make an appearance. However, disappointment ensued as Varun Gandhi remained absent from the event.

With Prime Minister Narendra Modi scheduled to address a public meeting in Pilibhit on April 9, local residents are once again optimistic about Varun’s possible participation in the rally. The anticipation remains high as constituents await Varun Gandhi’s next move amidst the shifting political landscape in Pilibhit.