Varun turns down BJP offer to contest against cousin Priyanka Gandhi from Rae Bareli | India News - Times of India

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NEW DELHI: Anticipating Congress fielding

Priyanka Gandhi

for the

Rae Bareli

, in Uttar Pradesh, BJP offered

Varun Gandhi

to

contest

from the seat.

However, BJP's idea of fielding a Gandhi versus Gandhi contest is not working out as Varun Gandhi has turned down the offer to enter the contest.

According to sources close to Varun Gandhi, he declined the offer made to him about 10 days ago by the BJP leadership.

Varun Gandhi, a third term MP from Pilibhit in UP, was not given a ticket from the same seat. However, he declined the offer to go for a Gandhi versus Gandhi clash, as he has a personal ''good equation'' with his cousins even as they represent rival parties

BJP sources said, with Priyanka Gandhi likely to contest her first election from Rae Bareli, the seat looks tough and hence the need for a formidable opponent from the saffron party.

BJP's internal surveys on likely candidates like Dinesh Singh, Brajesh Pathak, Vinay Katiyar, among a couple of others did not work out in favour of the party, according to sources. That is when the party asked Varun Gandhi to take up the challenge. But Varun Gandhi, whose mother and veteran parliamentarian Maneka Gandhi is contesting from the Sultanpur seat.

Varun will not be contesting the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, it is learnt.