Varun Gandhi’s arrest today amidst a pro-Hindutva demonstration at Pilibhit in Uttar Pradesh, has confused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over his posturing as a ‘Hindutva’ leader, at a time when the party is banking on developmental issues in the coming Lok Sabha elections.
Though the party officials said that the law would take its own course as Gandhi was arrested following his surrender at a local court in Pilibhit for his alleged hate speech, party leaders were today seen blaming the media for “making a hero out of Varun.”
Party Spokesperson Balbir Punj blamed the television media for “making a hero out of Varun Gandhi by extending the coverage of his speech.” The 29-year-old Varun is BJP’s candidate from Pilibhit constituency in Uttar Pradesh.
However, BJP sources admitted that while Varun was posturing as a ‘Hindutva’ leader with his supporters holding saffron flags with Hindu symbols at Pilibhit, his line of campaigning was not in tune with the party’s strategy. “His posturing may have an impact at the local level, but we do not see it translating into votes for us,’’ a senior BJP leader said.
BJP leaders even worried that the “absence of a cause and raking up the Hindutva issue may actually lead to consolidation of votes against the BJP in Uttar Pradesh.”
However, Siddharth Nath Singh, BJP’s spokesperson, said that Varun’s campaign was not going to have any impact on the party’s agenda. “At no cost we will allow the party’s agenda, which is based on developmental issues, to be diluted.” He was referring to the theme of “good governance, development and security” campaign launched by the BJP across the country.
He said the BJP has taken a conscious decision not to rake up any contentious issues like Ram Mandir etc and focus on the developmental issues in the election.
The presence of BJP leader Kalraj Mishra at the court premises, where Varun Gandhi had surrendered, is being explained as “much-needed presence of a authority who could rein in the young party candidate.”
BJP sources said Varun had been warned by senior party leaders including Rajnath Singh and Arun Jaitley against transgressing law and the moral code of conduct for election. “He has been asked to choose his words carefully,” sources said.
