Why BJP's new President Amit Shah showed Varun Gandhi the door

BJP president Amit Shah’s decision to drop two-time MP Varun Gandhi as general secretary has raised eyebrows given that the party claims the way forward is through young blood. While the party has not yet expressed why Varun was dropped from the national executive, sources within the party have said it is largely because of Narendra Modi’s policy against nepotism. As Varun’s mother Maneka is a minister in the BJP-led government, Varun had to be shown the door. But there could there be more to Shah’s decision of dropping Varun. According to a report in the Hindustan Times, the move was more of a deciplinary step to teach Varun that he has to respect the party. The report lists two reasons that could well be behind Shah’s decision. Maneka, a few weeks ago, had made a remark suggesting that the only way Uttar Pradesh could improve is if her son Varun is made CM of the state. HT reports that Shah immediately drove down to Maneka’s residence telling her not make such comments unless the party has taken a decision first. [caption id=“attachment_1667969” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Varun Gandhi is a two-time BJP MP from Uttar Pradesh. Reuters[/caption] Two, Varun, during one of Modi’s rallies in Uttar Pradesh, had told reporters that the turnout was ‘okay’ and that only 50,000 people had turned up, when the party claimed over 2 lakh supporters had gathered. A somewhat similar view was expressed by some partymen who told the Times of India, that the decision to keep Varun out was because of his tendency to act independent of the party. According to The Indian Express, while Shah was following Modi’s policy of not allowing two family members to hold important posts, Varun does not have a close relationship with either Shah or Modi. The BJP, however, claims that there will definetly be space for Varun after the party looks at his calibre. dropped as General Secretary by BJP president Amit Shah who constituted his new team of office-bearers today, party secretary Siddharth Nath Singh said the party will surely look into his calibre and position him accordingly. “There are many opportunities in the party, in the government and I am sure the party will look into his calibre and adjust him accordingly,” Singh told reporters in Kolkata. Varun is likely to continue focusing on party work in Uttar Pradesh, where by-polls are scheduled for later this year.