Pilibhit has been represented by the mother-son duo of Maneka and Varun Gandhi since 1996 and the locals share a deep sentimental connection with the family, which, they say, has stood with them in their times of need. "BJP will win because of PM Modi s popularity. But had Varun Gandhi contested, it would have probably won with a higher number of votes," Ram Swaroop, a village head from the Marauri block of Pilibhit, told ET.Gandhi had won with more than 700,000 votes in 2019.