Varun Gandhi's life in pics

Varun Gandhi, the youngest grandchild of former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, joined politics at so early an age that he was not even old enough to contest elections then. He joined the BJP in early 2004, by which time he was already a published poet and the toast of Delhi's swish set.

Through this photo feature, we take a look at the young politician's life.

Varun was three-months-old when his father, Sanjay Gandhi, considered the natural heir to the Gandhi political legacy, died in a plane crash. His mother, Maneka, was soon estranged from the family she had married into.

Varun studied at the Rishi Valley School and later at the British School in New Delhi. Like first cousins Rahul and Priyanka, he grew up with politics in his blood, but did not have the privileged entry into his career of choice that, say, Rahul had. When he picked the BJP, eyebrows were raised.

The BJP was pleased to get its own bonafide Gandhi. Of course mother Maneka Gandhi joined the BJP too, making it two Gandhis. Varun is seen here with senior BJP leaders playing Holi.

Articulate and with an infectious young zeal, Varun campaigned tirelessly for mother Maneka in the UP constituency of Pilibhit for the 2004 elections. There was no doubt that he was being groomed to take over.

Seen here with BJP leader Vijay Goel holding ceremonial swords, Varun has quite had to fight his way into and to stay afloat in politics. He has been in many a controversy, the most serious being the charge of making hate speeches during electioneering in 2009. In the months of legal battles that followed, even the BJP distanced itself from its Gandhi. But Varun won the Pilibhit seat by a huge margin in the Lok Sabha elections that followed and could be politically ignored no more.

Varun is now a member of the BJP National Executive and is the youngest Secretary of the BJP ever.

Varun's stint with the BJP has not always been smooth. He joined as a very young man, but soon took a sabbatical to continue his education in London.

He has not had the easiest relationships with his cousins and aunt Sonia Gandhi. But last month, Varun met his aunt and Congress President Sonia Gandhi at her 10 Janpath home to invite her to his wedding.