A defiant Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today announced that Varun Gandhi would continue to be the party’s candidate from the Pilibhit Lok Sabha constituency in Uttar Pradesh, and also questioned the Election Commission (EC) for advising that he be dropped from contesting the coming elections in view of his recent controversial speech.
The EC had censured Gandhi for his speech in which he had allegedly made objectionable remarks about a religious community at his c onstituency early this month. It even advised the BJP to drop Gandhi as its candidate.
BJP spokesperson Balbir Punj said that the suggestion of the EC “had serious implications as it seeks to redefine the contours of the democratic practices and traditions in practice.”
However, it was clear that the Election Commission’s order on the Varun Gandhi issue late last night came as a shock to the BJP. Most of the party leaders admitted it was an “unprecedented move” by the Commission. Senior party leaders gathered at LK Advani’s house to deliberate on the party’s reaction on the order.
In spite of putting up a brave face on Gandhi’s case, the BJP has sent an advisory to all its candidates and campaign leaders to “be careful with their speeches and stick to the model code of conduct for the election.”
Taking up cudgels on behalf of the 29-year-old Varun Gandhi, the BJP questioned EC’s authority in issuing such an order. “The party shudders to think what would happen to the free and fair conduct of elections if the EC itself starts moving beyond the scope of well established law and practice,” a statement released by BJP headquarters here said.
“It is indeed a strange situation where despite lack of conviction under due process of law, a constitutional body like the Election Commission has started to decide on the allotment of tickets, a prerogative of the political parties,” the statement added.
More From This Section
The BJP questioned the Election Commission decision to order video tracking of all public speeches of Vinay Katiyar, former chief of the Bajrang Dal and now a Rajya Sabha MP, who is contesting the Lok Sabha elections from Uttar Pradesh.
A spokesman of the EC scotched rumours that the Commission was divided in giving its verdict on the Varun Gandhi case. “The Election Commission’s order was unanimous,” he said. Sources, however, said the Election Commission had finalised the order in Gandhi’s case after holding three meetings.