Varun is our candidate from Pilibhit, affirms BJP

NEW DELHI - Varun Gandhi remains the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from Pilibhit in Uttar Pradesh despite being hauled up by the Election Commission for his allegedly communal speeches.

‘Varun Gandhi is our candidate from Pilibhit. He is the declared candidate of the party,’ BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar told reporters here amid speculation that the party had distanced itself from the young candidate.

Varun Gandhi has been in the eye of a storm since a CD emerged showing him making hate speeches against Muslims at public meetings in Pilibhit. He claims the CD had been doctored.

When asked what the party would do if the poll panel found the allegation to be true, Javadekar said: ‘Let the Election Commission take action, then we will decide.’

The Election Commission had served a notice on Gandhi, to which he filed a reply Friday, saying his speeches in Pilibhit were not intended to spark communal ill-will. He also secured anticipatory bail from the Delhi High Court.