Varun Gandhi files nomination from Pilibhit

Gandhi, the 29-year-old new Hindutva poster-boy of the BJP, was accompanied by his mother Maneka Gandhi while filing his papers at the District Magistrate office in Pilibhit for the elections to be held on May 13 in this seat.

A large number of his supporters and media-persons were seen outside the office as the BJP leader, who is contesting against his uncle and Congress leader P M Singh, filed the nomination.

Tight security arrangements were made near the DM office to prevent any untoward incident. He has kept the event low-key as the district administration denied permission for a procession of his supporters to accompany him while filing of nominations.

Gandhi, grandson of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and son of Sanjay Gandhi, is making his electoral debut with the Lok Sabha polls.

A controversy raged over his candidature following his anti-Muslim speeches during campaign in Pilibhit and was arrested under National Securities Act. Earlier, addressing a public meeting in Nawabganj before filing the nominations, Gandhi said "non-violence is his religion" and his country taught him to respect and love others.

Varun cannot be gagged, says BJP

In another development, the BJP on Wednesday said its Pilibhit candidate could not be gagged from speaking on several issues and he would be certainly used by the party for campaigning in other parts of the country.

"Certainly, we are going to use him in the campaign. I don't think he can be gagged from speaking on various issues, as long as his remarks are within the limits of law and the undertaking he has given to the Supreme Court," BJP general secretary Arun Jaitley said in New Delhi.

Jaitely said Varun would abstain from making such speeches that brought him into media glare and it was up to the party to use the young Gandhi's services. "I am sure that kind of statements will be nowhere part of the campaign. If you are asking me the party should not use him, I don't agree to that suggestion," the BJP leader told NDTV.

"Mind you, this is only his first election. He has to win from Pilibhit. I am sure he will win. He will campaign in some adjacent constituencies. There are some other areas where there is a good amount of demand for him and the party, if it thinks, will send him there." he added.