Varun Gandhi Meets PM Modi with Family: Is His Political ‘Exile’ Coming to an End? Signs of Return to BJP?
Srishti Jha
New Delhi: In Indian politics, there are moments when even a single photograph can send strong political signals. A recent picture shared by Varun Gandhi showing him meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with his family has sparked similar speculation. The meeting, which comes after a long gap, has triggered discussions in political circles—whether this could mark the beginning of the end of Varun Gandhi’s political “exile” and signal a possible return to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Over the past few years, a visible distance had emerged between Varun Gandhi and the BJP leadership. His outspoken criticism of certain government policies—particularly those related to farmers—had gradually pushed him away from the party’s mainstream leadership. This distancing became evident when the BJP did not field him as a candidate in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from Pilibhit. Not only Varun Gandhi, but his mother and senior BJP leader Maneka Gandhi was also denied a ticket, reinforcing the perception that the party leadership had created a gap with the family.
However, the recently shared photograph and Varun Gandhi’s remarks praising the Prime Minister are now being seen as an important sign of a possible thaw in relations. In a post on the social media platform X, Varun Gandhi wrote that he felt fortunate to receive the Prime Minister’s blessings and guidance during the meeting with his family. He described Modi’s presence as carrying a paternal warmth and protection, calling him a true guardian of the nation and its people.
Political observers believe that this interaction may not be just a routine courtesy meeting. The respectful tone adopted by Varun Gandhi toward the Prime Minister in his public message suggests that he may be attempting to reshape his political future. Earlier, there had been speculation about his possible entry into the Congress party, but those possibilities never materialised. In that context, restoring ties with the BJP is being viewed by many analysts as a more practical political path.
Varun Gandhi has also maintained a strong political base in Uttar Pradesh. The Pilibhit Lok Sabha constituency has been represented either by Maneka Gandhi or Varun Gandhi continuously since 1996. Varun Gandhi secured a decisive victory in the 2009 Lok Sabha election by defeating Congress candidate V. M. Singh with a large margin. Later, in the 2019 elections, he retained the seat by defeating Samajwadi Party candidate Hemraj Verma. During his parliamentary tenure, he was often recognised as a vocal MP who raised several public issues.
परिवार सहित श्रद्धेय प्रधानमंत्री श्री @narendramodi जी से मिलकर उनका आर्शीर्वाद और मार्गदर्शन पाने का सौभाग्य प्राप्त हुआ।
आपके आभामंडल में अद्भुत पितृवत स्नेह और संरक्षण का भाव है।
आपसे हुई भेंट इस विश्वास को और भी दृढ़ बना देती है कि आप देश और देशवासियों के सच्चे अभिभावक… pic.twitter.com/RPSuJlbsrq
— Varun Gandhi (@varungandhi80) March 17, 2026
When he was denied a ticket in 2024, Maneka Gandhi had publicly stated that it was the party’s decision and that Varun would continue to contribute to the nation’s service, whichever path he chose. At the time, the statement was seen as a measured response. However, after this recent meeting with the Prime Minister, questions have resurfaced about whether Varun Gandhi may be preparing for a political comeback within the BJP.
In Indian politics, changing equations and evolving relationships are not unusual. Differences are often followed by dialogue and reconciliation. It will therefore be interesting to see how this renewed closeness between Varun Gandhi and the BJP leadership unfolds in the coming months. For now, one photograph has certainly reignited discussions in political corridors—reminding observers that in politics, “exile” is rarely permanent when the doors of dialogue remain open.