UP would've benefited with Varun at helm: Maneka

Union Minister for Women and Child Development Maneka Gandhi said Uttar Pradesh (UP) would have benefited had there been a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government in the state with Varun Gandhi as chief minister.

Varun, Maneka's son, is a Member of Parliament from Sultanpur.

"It would have been better had there been our government in the state. Then we would have got work done authoritatively. It would have been even better if the government would have been run by Varun, in which case Pilibhit would have benefited most," she said, addressing a meeting in Takia village on Sunday.

On projecting Varun as the state's chief ministerial candidate, Maneka said, "It is a matter for the future."

BJP state president Laxmi Kant Bajpai said whatever the minister had expressed was her personal view. "In BJP, the party high command takes such decisions. Besides, it is too early to comment," he added.

The meeting was organised by Varun Gandhi Youth Brigade. His supporters raised slogans "Hamara CM kaisa ho, Varun Gandhi jaisa ho (Our chief minister should be like Varun Gandhi)."