Rahul Gandhi meets cousin Varun Gandhi at Kedarnath temple, sparks political speculation

New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and his cousin BJP leader Varun Gandhi crossed paths briefly at the Kedarnath temple on Tuesday, where they had both gone to offer their prayers.

This unusual encounter between the cousins, who are rarely seen together in public, has triggered speculation in some quarters about Varun Gandhi's political future.

Varun Gandhi, the son of Sanjay and Maneka Gandhi, has not been visible at key BJP gatherings in recent months. He is an MP from Uttar Pradesh. Moreover, his positions on critical issues, including those related to the now-repealed farm laws, have sometimes diverged from the party's stance.

Sources have revealed that the Gandhis had a brief encounter outside the revered shrine, during which they exchanged pleasantries. The meeting was described as "very short" and warm.

Rahul Gandhi reportedly expressed great happiness upon meeting Varun's daughter during this encounter. It is worth noting that while the two cousins infrequently meet, they have maintained a "good and civil" relationship. However, the sources also clarified that no political discussions took place during this meeting.

In a press conference last year, when asked whether Varun Gandhi would be welcomed into the Congress, Rahul Gandhi stated that anyone was welcome, but Varun had "adopted the ideology of the BJP/RSS," which the Congress was actively opposing.

Rahul Gandhi had been in Kedarnath, Uttarakhand, for the past three days, while Varun Gandhi visited the temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, along with his family, on Tuesday.