BJP silent on CM face for UP
What's the story
For the upcoming elections in UP, BJP has yet to announce its CM candidate.
Allegedly, the BJP was keen to name current Home Minister, Rajnath Singh, as its candidate however Mr. Singh refused to accept.
Every survey conducted in UP shows Varun Gandhi as the most popular BJP leader for Chief Minister.
BJP was last in power in UP 14 years ago.
Profile
MP Varun Gandhi
Varun Gandhi became BJP's youngest ever National General secretary in 2013 at age 33.
Gandhi is a two time MP, having won from Pilibhit in 2009 and from Sultanpur in 2014. He won the Pilibhit seat by a 3 lakh margin.
He reportedly tours UP extensively to nurture his constituencies.
MP Varun Gandhi has a B.Sc. in Economics from the London School of Economics.
Details
Varun Gandhi as Uttar Pradesh CM?
Seven years ago Gandhi was nearly jailed for making hate speeches; it's now claimed that he has distanced himself from BJP's hindutva politics.
Gandhi is also known to espouse "social democratic politics" that is in complete contrast to the party line.
The uneasiness between Gandhi and BJP is also attributed to BJP's acute hostility towards the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty and attempts to repudiate their legacy.
What's happening
Strained equations
Gandhi's visit to Allahabad close to BJP's strategy meet for UP didn't not go down well with BJP.
The party was miffed with posters of Gandhi as UP CM appearing all over Allahabad. He has since been instructed to not hold events outside his constituency.
Gandhi also sharply criticised his party's stand on the child labour amendment bill that was recently passed in Parliament.
Personal
The Allahabad connect
Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh is Varun Gandhi's ancestral home town. Main landmarks, streets and buildings are named after his great-grandparents - Motilal Nehru and Swaroop Rani. India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru's house 'Anand Bhawan' still draws many visitors on Sundays.
Do you know?
Varun Gandhi - The poet
Varun Gandhi has been writing poems since the age of 17. He has written a book called "The Otherness of Self" which is a compilation of his poems.