Lucknow, 28 March (HS): On Thursday, BJP politician Varun Gandhi released a touching letter he wrote to the people of his Lok Sabha seat Pilibhit, stating that he will continue to fight for them as a son, if not as an MP. Gandhi, the incumbent MP from Pilibhit, was refused a BJP ticket for the seat. The saffron party replaced him with Jitin Prasada, UP minister, a Congress defector and former Rahul Gandhi confidante. Even though my term as an MP is coming to a close, my bond with Pilibhit will continue till my death. He added, If not as an MP, then as a son, I am committed to serving you throughout my life, and my doors will always remain open for you as before.

He stated that representing the people of Pilibhit was the highest honor of his life. Being your representative has been the greatest honor of my life and I have always championed your interests to the best of my ability, declared Gandhi.

He added that his affinity with Pilibhit goes beyond politics and that he will continue to speak out for the ordinary man. I entered politics to raise the voice of the ordinary man, and I now beg your permission to continue doing so at any cost. My connection with Pilibhit is built on love and trust, which transcends political calculations. I was, am, and will be yours, he continued.

Gandhi is likely to campaign for his mother, Maneka Gandhi, who has been nominated by the BJP for Sultanpur. Following the BJP's rebuff, prominent Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury stated that the Pilibhit MP was denied a ticket due to his Gandhi surname and asked him to join the Congress. He has yet to reply to Chowdhury's offer.

Hindusthan Samachar/Abhishek Awasthi/Manoj