In an exclusive interview, former Union minister and BJP’s Sultanpur candidate Maneka Gandhi indicated that her son Varun Gandhi’s writings, which were sometimes critical of the government, may have cost him the party’s Lok Sabha ticket from Pilibhit. She asserted that he would do well even without it. Maneka Gandhi mentioned that Varun Gandhi wants to campaign for her but a decision hasn’t been made yet. The BJP fielded Uttar Pradesh Public Works Minister Jitin Prasada from Pilibhit instead of Varun Gandhi. Notably, the Pilibhit seat has remained with Maneka Gandhi or her son since 1996.