Everybody loves a good Varun

Out on parole for 15 days,Varun has been flooded with requests from several Lok Sabha candidates,who are pleading with him to make an appearance on the dais with them even if he doesn’t speak,bound as he is by his undertaking in the SC promising good conduct.

Among those seeking Varun is IIM-L graduate Ranjan Chaudhary,the BJP candidate from Mohanlalganj. “Irrespective of what has happened,I have requested Varun to come and campaign for me. I can relate to him and Navjot Singh Siddhu,and no matter what he has said in the past or what has been said about him,I would like to see Varun standing by me,” Chaudhary says.

Kheri candidate Ajay Mishra Teni,who will file his nomination papers on Wednesday,too is vying for Varun. “Even if he does not speak,his presence is enough to pull the crowd. Here,the electorate is mainly rural and Varun’s words will have a good effect on them. He has a presence,” Mishra says.

BJP candidate from Etah Shyam Singh Shakya,too,is in the queue. “Whatever happened is past. He is now a more sensible person. He is surely a crowd-puller and his name will ensure good turnouts in our meetings,” Shakya says.

Raghvendra Singh,BJP candidate from Dhaurahra,says,“Varun is a good leader and talks what people would like to hear. Above all,he is a national name now and everyone knows him.”

Fatehpur candidate Radheyshyam Gupta,who was among the first to ask for Varun,says the controversy over him was blown out of proportion.

“He is a fellow worker and it would be nice to see him campaigning for me. He is also the face of the youth,” Gupta says,adding “just his presence would be fine”.

The party,however,is yet to decide on Varun’s campaign plan. According to state BJP vice-president H N Dixit,“We are yet to draw his campaign plan. Varun surely knows what he has to say and we are there to guide him through this. We are waiting for the central office’s decision.”

State BJP president Ramapati Ram Tripathi,who is busy managing his son Sharad Tripathi’s campaign in Sant Kabir Nagar,says the decision to allow Varun to campaign will be taken by the central leadership.

“They have said Varun will be campaigning. He hasn’t committed a crime that we should stop him from talking about a party he belongs to. When the party lays down the plan,he will campaign for sure,” Tripathi says.