Comment on Rahul was not endorsement, says Varun Gandhi

Mangalore Today News Network

Uttar Pradesh, April 2, 2014: In the heat of campaigning for the general election, estranged cousins Rahul and Varun Gandhi shared a moment of warmth that was lapped up by the media.

Varun Gandhi, the BJP candidate from Sultanpur, first delivered a surprise last night by heaping praise on Rahul, who is running for Parliament from neighbouring Amethi and is widely seen as the Congress’ prime ministerial face.

"I want to bring a new form of politics. We need small scale industries, the kind of self-help groups that Rahulji has set up successfully in Amethi. Though I haven’t seen his work personally," Varun, 34, said at a meeting with teachers and activists.

Rahul Gandhi, who accompanied his mother Sonia as she filed her nomination in Raebareli today, was asked by reporters about his cousin’s praise.

"What Varun is saying is right. I have a relationship with Amethi. I am very glad that others are appreciating the work I’ve done in Amethi," the Congress vice president said, flashing a smile.

But moments later, Varun tweeted that his words should not be seen as an endorsement of any political party or candidate. "Although I had not seen the work done via self help groups in Amethi, I had heard it was fairly decent... It should NOT be seen as an endorsement of any political party or candidate (sic)," he wrote.
 
The younger Gandhi had last month declared that he would not campaign against Rahul in Amethi, saying he believed in "lines of decency I would never cross."

Varun and Rahul are the grandsons of former prime minister Indira Gandhi. Varun’s father, Sanjay, represented Amethi in Parliament when he died in a plane crash in 1980. His older brother, Rajiv, who was Rahul’s father, then made Amethi his constituency till he was assassinated in 1991.

Varun’s mother, Maneka, fell out with Indira Gandhi after Sanjay Gandhi’s death; she joined the BJP in 2004.