'Main aapka tha, hun aur rahunga': Varun Gandhi's heartfelt message for Pilibhit electorate as his term as BJP MP ends

As his term as the BJP MP from UP’s Pilibhit comes to an end, Varun Gandhi on Thursday wrote a heartfelt note for his electorate saying that his relation with the people of Pilibhit will not end till his last breath and sought their blessings to continue to raise the voice of the common man.

In a post captioned ‘pranam Pilibhit’ on X, he said, “Even though my tenure as an MP is coming to an end, my relationship with Pilibhit cannot end till my last breath. If not as an MP, then as a son, I am committed to serve you throughout my life and my doors will always remain open for you as before. I came into politics to raise the voice of the common man and today I seek your blessings to always continue doing this work, no matter what the cost. The relationship between me and Pilibhit is one of love and trust, which is far above any political merit. ‘Main aapka tha, hun aur rahunga’ (I was, am and will be yours)."

He also spoke about countless memories he has with the place and how as a three-year-old kid he first visited Pilibhit in 1983.

“Today as I am writing this letter, countless memories have made me emotional. I remember that 3 year old little boy who came to Pilibhit for the first time in 1983 holding his mother’s finger, how did he know that one day this land would become his workplace and the people here would become his family," he added.

He said that he considers himself fortunate as he got the opportunity to serve the great people of Pilibhit for years.

“The ideals, simplicity and kindness I received from Pilibhit have a huge contribution in my upbringing and development, not only as an MP but also as a person. Being your representative has been the greatest honor of my life and I have always championed your interests to the best of my ability," he added.

Varun, who won from Pilibhit twice, was dropped by the BJP and replaced by former Congress leader Jitin Prasada in the party’s fifth list of candidates released on 25 March.

Pilibhit goes to polls in the first phase of Lok Sabha elections on 19 April. The filing of nominations by candidates for the seat closed on 27 March.

This is for the first time in over three decades that the mother-son duo of Maneka Gandhi and Varun Gandhi will not be in the fray from the Pilibhit constituency which is located in the Terai belt bordering Nepal.

The denial of ticket to Varun Gandhi this time did not come as a surprise as he has been criticising the BJP on the issues of farmers, health and jobs.

After he was replaced by Prasada, reports did the rounds that Varun Gandhi might contest from the seat as an independent candidate. The suspense ended on Wednesday when he did not turn up before the nominations ended at 3 pm on the day.

His mother Maneka Gandhi, the sitting MP from Sultanpur, was, however, given another chance from the same seat by the BJP.

The Pilibhit seat has remained with Maneka Gandhi or her son Varun Gandhi since 1996.

Maneka Gandhi won the seat on a Janata Dal ticket in 1989, lost in 1991 and won again in 1996. She won from the constituency in 1998 and 1999 as an Independent candidate. She won the seat in 2004 and 2014 as a BJP candidate.

Varun Gandhi won the seat in 2009 and 2019 as a BJP candidate.

With inputs from agencies