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UP Elections 2017: What's keeping this Gandhi, missing from state campaign, busy?

BJP MP Varun Gandhi has kept himself away from the hullabaloo of the Assembly elections 2017

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BJP MP Varun Gandhi addresses a rally in Indore on Tuesday, February 21
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BJP Member of Parliament Varun Gandhi's Twitter profile says, "MP (Lok Sabha), Sultanpur, Columnist. Poet of The Otherness of Self and Stillness". His tweets, schedule and actions reflect a stillness in his political journey.

The only Gandhi missing from the action in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh, the 36-year-old Sultanpur MP has kept himself away from the campaign trail — literally and otherwise. Meanwhile, in the past month he has visited several towns across the country from Jammu to Kochi, particularly to give academic lectures at various universities.

The last one has raised eyebrows. Gandhi said the letter of Dalit PhD student Rohith Vemula, who committed suicide last year, brought tears to his eyes. "Rohith wrote that he was taking the extreme step because he had committed the sin of taking birth in such form. This line pained my heart immensely," he had said delivering a lecture on "Ideas for a new India" at a private college in Indore. The comment counters the claims made by union minister Smriti Irani, who then held the HRD portfolio, that it was not a Dalit issue.

"The speech I made is an academic one. It focuses on the economic inequality prevalent within our system and the need to effect real effective socio-economic change. The problem is systemic and not related to any one government or party. I have been speaking about these issues for years now," Varun told DNA.

While he has refrained from outright rebellion, maintaining a stoic silence on the political front, the growing gulf between him and his party was palpable. A face, which just last year was seen as one of the potential chief ministerial candidates in UP, was conspicuous by its absence from the state. On February 11, the first day of polling in the seven-phased election, Varun was in Kochi, giving a lecture at SCMS School of Engineering and Technology.

That there was unease in the relationship between him and BJP president Amit Shah was apparent. Varun's name was missing from the party's first list of star campaigners for UP, though it was included in the third one. Sultanpur goes to polls in the fifth phase on February 27. While Shah was in his constituency on Tuesday, Varun was in Indore. In January, Varun made trips to Churu, Hyderabad and Jammu. From every place he tweeted.

The low profile, the apolitical nature of his tweets, the passion for poetry, his writings and the initiatives for farmers indicate a liberal, left of centre twist in his approach, defying his party line.

"It is very important for me to supplant political work with what effects real socio-economic change. I believe very strongly in civil society initiatives and try to apportion my time accordingly," Varun told DNA.

He, however, was quiet on politics.

Underlining his resolve to focus on "economic equality", he said his main concern was that "every person becomes part of social structure". He has his future plans of books and travels lined up. A book on economic future of Indian village is expected to be released next year.

It remains to be seen how, when and where Varun may break his vow of political silence.

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