Varun's first Pilibhit visit since arrest

Varun Gandhi was back - back to where it all began. His mother by his side, Varun Gandhi was in Pilibhit on Wednesday - his first visit since he got out of jail.

The EC did not give him permission to hold a road show, but nothing could take away from the nomination turning into a show.

But this time, the comments were only for the stage - no sound bites or interviews. The speech was cautious, but he hit the election notes just right.

"Varun Gandhi is firm on what he says. I went to prison for you," he shouted to the crowd.

Varun Gandhi also made a strong attack on the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister whose government put him behind bars. "Mayawati sent me to jail to break my spirit. I believe in non-violence," he said.

Amidst the crowd, a Varun supporter said, "Varun is India's hero. He's the hero of Hindus."

But it will not be easy fight for the other Gandhi. He is fighting anti incumbency, his mother is the current MP from Pilhibit and delimitation has ensured that the Muslim population in the region has gone up.

For now, the Saffron Gandhi is banking on his new Hindutva image - something, even the BJP hopes to use. On Wednesday, the party said it will use Varun as a nationwide campaigner.

For the people who had come from far and away to attend this rally, the fact that Varun Gandhi is the BJP candidate was almost incidental. What's being marketed here was Brand Varun, the latest Hindutva icon. And that's why even at this rally, the saffron far outnumbered the BJP's lotus.