Gandhi family member defects

By Abhishek Prabhat
BBC correspondent in Delhi

The Indian prime minister gave Varun Gandhi a warm welcome

A prominent member of India's famous Nehru-Gandhi family, has joined the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party or BJP.

Varun Gandhi's move is significant, because his family have long been linked with the Congress party.

The BJP intends to use Varun to campaign in elections due in April and take on his cousins and political rivals, Priyanka and Rahul Gandhi.

Three out of India's 12 prime ministers belong to the Nehru-Gandhi family, including the first, Jawaharlal Nehru.

Varun Gandhi's decision to join the BJP formalises a political split in the family which ruled India and led the Congress party for nearly 36 years.

New generation

Analysts say that the BJP wants an effective counter to the two Gandhi siblings who are fast emerging as lynchpins in the effort by Congress - led by their mother Sonia Gandhi - to create a new generation of politicians.

GANDHI-NEHRU DYNASTY Jawaharlal Nehru: First Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi: Killed by her Sikh bodyguard Sanjay Gandhi: Killed flying his plane Rajiv Gandhi: Assassinated by suspected Tamil extremists Sonia Gandhi: Opposition leader and Congress Party president

Varun Gandhi is the grandson of former Congress prime minister Indira Gandhi.

He is also the nephew of her son, another former Congress prime minister, Rajiv Gandhi.

Both Indira and Rajiv Gandhi were assassinated.

Varun's mother, Maneka Gandhi, a former minister and prominent animal rights campaigner, also joined the BJP with her son.

Maneka was estranged from the family after her husband Sanjay died in a plane crash in 1980.

Varun decided to make the switch after a series of meetings with senior BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and Deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishna Advani.

But he will not immediately contest elections as he is 24 years old and not eligible to run until he is 25.

Until now Gandhis have been synonymous with Congress

Now the Gandhi-Nehru family is represented in the government and the opposition.

Varun told reporters in Delhi that he would not like to speak against his cousins.

"I would try not to campaign against the family. I do not believe in attacking someone," he said.

Analysts say the BJP is concerned about the threat posed to their re-election by Priyanka and Rahul Gandhi who have both become more politically active in recent months.