Maneka may contest from both Pilibhit and Aaonla: BJP

With its candidate Varun Gandhi in jail after he was booked under NSA, BJP is mulling over all possible options to win the Pilibhit seat including making him contest from jail or fielding his mother Maneka Gandhi from this constituency and Aaonla as well.

"The party is keeping all options open. We may field Maneka Gandhi from Pilibhit and Aaonla both. Or Varun Gandhi may contest from jail. We could even file a Habeas Corpus in the High Court or appear before a review committee to get the NSA quashed," a senior general secretary of BJP told reporters, preferring anonymity.

Maneka Gandhi had won from Pilibhit on a BJP ticket in the 2004 general elections. At her behest, BJP gave the ticket to Varun Gandhi for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections from Pilibhit as it was considered a safe bet for Varun's political baptism. She will contest from adjacent constituency Aaonla. 

Now that NSA has been slapped on Varun, getting bail may be difficult. NSA cases are reviewed every three months. In case Maneka contests and wins from Pilibhit and Aaonla both, she can retain Aaonla while Varun can contest the by-election later, party sources said.

Varun was granted bail in the hate speech case on Monday but is still in jail as he was booked under NSA.