According to sources, BJP leader Varun Gandhi is contemplating contesting the upcoming Lok Sabha elections as an independent candidate if the party fails to nominate him for the Pilibhit seat in Uttar Pradesh, a constituency he has represented for three consecutive terms.

Varun Gandhi’s representatives reportedly traveled to Delhi, procured four sets of nomination papers for the Pilibhit seat, and returned to the national capital, indicating his preparedness to contest independently if necessary.

The BJP is yet to convene a Central Election Commission (CEC) meeting led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to finalize candidates for various constituencies, including Pilibhit.

In the current electoral lineup, the BJP has announced former BSP MP Ritesh Pandey as its candidate for Ambedkar Nagar, with prominent figures like Hema Malini, Ravi Kishan, Ajay Mishra Teni, Mahesh Sharma, SPS Baghel, and Sakshi Maharaj also being retained.

Notably, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to contest from Varanasi, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh from Lucknow, and Union Minister Smriti Irani from Amethi.

However, Varun Gandhi’s potential candidacy faced opposition from state-level BJP leaders during a recent core committee meeting.

In previous instances, Varun Gandhi has expressed criticism toward the Uttar Pradesh government, including veiled remarks aimed at Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. He emphasized the importance of maintaining focus on governance rather than personal conflicts, particularly in light of incidents such as the suspension of Amethi’s Sanjay Gandhi Hospital license following a patient’s demise.

Taking to social media platform X, Varun Gandhi underscored the significance of prioritizing public welfare over personal agendas, cautioning against allowing discord to overshadow developmental efforts.