Tag: Hardik Patel

  • Gujarat: Clinching Viramgam seat in poll debut is no cakewalk for Patidar face Hardik Patel

    By PTI

    VIRAMGAM: The ruling BJP in Gujarat has fielded newly-inducted young Patidar leader Hardik Patel to snatch from the Congress the Viramgam Assembly seat that had thrown up a surprise in the last election and is considered immune to caste politics as leaders from different castes and religions, including a minority community, have represented it so far.

    For the 29-year-old Patel, a native of Chandranagar village of Viramgam taluka of Ahmedabad who was born and brought up in Viramgam town, it is his maiden Assembly election.

    He will lock horns with sitting Congress MLA Lakhabhai Bharwad, who defeated Bharatiya Janata Party’s Tejashree Patel in 2017 by a margin of over 6,500 votes.

    Viramgam Assembly segment, which comprises Viramgam, Mandal and Detroj talukas of Ahmedabad, has been with the Congress for the last 10 years. This and 92 other seats will go to polls in the second phase on December 5.

    Interestingly, in the 2012 Assembly polls, Tejashree Patel had contested as a Congress candidate and defeated BJP’s Pragji Patel by a margin of more than 16,000 votes.

    During her tenure as the Congress MLA, she left her mark as a fierce critic of the ruling BJP, both inside and outside the Assembly.

    However, to everyone’s surprise, when she switched sides and fought on the BJP ticket in 2017, voters rejected her and chose Congress’ Lakhabhai Bharwad, who belonged to the Other Backward Class (OBC).

    While some voters feel that Bharwad is facing anti-incumbency now, some others say he has been active as an MLA and worked hard to resolve the local issues, and hence defeating him would not be easy for Hardik.

    Viramgam comprises nearly 3 lakh voters, including 65,000 Thakor (OBC) voters, 50,000 Patidars or Patel voters, nearly 35,000 Dalits, 20,000 Bharwad and Rabari community voters, 20,000 Muslims, 18,000 Koli members and 10,000 Karadia (OBC) Rajputs.

    However, this seat has so far given MLAs from different castes, including Tejashree Patel (Patidar), Daudbhai Patel (Muslim) in 1980, Kamabhai Rathod (Karadia Rajput) in 2007 and Lakhabhai Bharwad (OBC).

    “People of Viramgam never vote on caste lines. That is the reason why candidates from different castes have won over the decades. Voters of this seat only see performance and commitment towards people and the party. I am confident of retaining this seat,” said Bharwad when asked if Hardik’s nomination may create trouble for him this time.

    Bharwad is relying on his past performance and the work done for the people or at least raising the issues in the Assembly as well as at the local level to get a solution.

    Both Viramgam Municipality and Taluka Panchayat are with the BJP.

    “Earlier, the condition of roads in the constituency was bad as they were not resurfaced for seven years. But due to my consistent efforts, they have resurfaced. However, the people of Viramgam town are suffering because the BJP is ruling the municipality. People are aware of who is at fault and who did their work,” Bharwad said.

    Some locals also endorsed Bharwad’s claims about the work he had done so far as an MLA.

    “There is no doubt that Patel is more popular. But it is also a fact that Bharwad was active as an MLA and worked hard to resolve our issues, be it bad roads or overflowing gutters. We have seen him on the ground. Though he was not able to solve all the issues, people know that he had tried,” said auto driver Kantilal Parmar.

    Another voter claimed that Hardik’s chances of winning had increased with the renomination of Bharwad.

    “Bharwad is facing anti-incumbency. Looking at the caste equations, Congress should have fielded someone from Thakor community. Now, Hardik’s chances have gone up with Bharwad’s renomination,” he said.

    The Aam Aadmi Party is also in the fray, which initially gave a ticket to one Kunvarji Thakor, before suddenly replacing him with Amarsinh Thakor.

    Kunvarji was unhappy with the development and decided to fight as an independent. In 2017, he contested as an independent and secured fourth place with 10,800 votes.

    One Kirit Rathod, a known Dalit activist from Viramgam, is also in the fray as an independent.

    Many believe that this trio, if they remain in the fray, can disrupt the voting equations and give unexpected results. The last date to withdraw nomination is November 21.

    Hardik, who rose to prominence after leading the Patidar reservation agitation seeking OBC status for the Patidar caste, joined the BJP in June after being with the Congress for nearly two years.

    He is now touring villages of the region.

    In the “list of promises” issued by him, the first one says he will make sure that Viramgam gets the status of a district and rural people are already thanking Patel for taking up this issue.

    “Viramgam is big enough to be declared as a separate district. People have been demanding it for some time. This will resolve many of our problems because we have to travel all the way to Ahmedabad for various works related to the collector’s office or for court-related matters. Hardik has rightly taken up the issue,” said Amrat Patel, a local farmer.

    Other key promises include building a modern sports complex, schools, 50-bed hospitals each in Mandal taluka, Detroj taluka and near Nal Sarovar, 1,000 government houses in Viramgam town, industrial estate, and gardens, among others.

    Notably, the four-page leaflet of promises does not find any mention of the word “Patidar” in it.

    In his short bio, it is mentioned that he was born in a “Hindu family” in Gujarat and his late father Bharatbhai was an active BJP worker in this region.

    Hinting at the EWS (economically weaker sections) quota introduced in Gujarat after his agitation for reservation, the leaflet says Hardik’s “historic agitation” was instrumental in providing many benefits to not just one but several communities.

    “Our campaign is going very strong and people are showering their blessings on Hardik. People are not happy with Congress MLA and they want a change this time. We are confident that people of Viramgam seat will vote for Hardik and once again bring BJP to power in the state,” said Hardik’s campaign manager Dipak Patel.

    VIRAMGAM: The ruling BJP in Gujarat has fielded newly-inducted young Patidar leader Hardik Patel to snatch from the Congress the Viramgam Assembly seat that had thrown up a surprise in the last election and is considered immune to caste politics as leaders from different castes and religions, including a minority community, have represented it so far.

    For the 29-year-old Patel, a native of Chandranagar village of Viramgam taluka of Ahmedabad who was born and brought up in Viramgam town, it is his maiden Assembly election.

    He will lock horns with sitting Congress MLA Lakhabhai Bharwad, who defeated Bharatiya Janata Party’s Tejashree Patel in 2017 by a margin of over 6,500 votes.

    Viramgam Assembly segment, which comprises Viramgam, Mandal and Detroj talukas of Ahmedabad, has been with the Congress for the last 10 years. This and 92 other seats will go to polls in the second phase on December 5.

    Interestingly, in the 2012 Assembly polls, Tejashree Patel had contested as a Congress candidate and defeated BJP’s Pragji Patel by a margin of more than 16,000 votes.

    During her tenure as the Congress MLA, she left her mark as a fierce critic of the ruling BJP, both inside and outside the Assembly.

    However, to everyone’s surprise, when she switched sides and fought on the BJP ticket in 2017, voters rejected her and chose Congress’ Lakhabhai Bharwad, who belonged to the Other Backward Class (OBC).

    While some voters feel that Bharwad is facing anti-incumbency now, some others say he has been active as an MLA and worked hard to resolve the local issues, and hence defeating him would not be easy for Hardik.

    Viramgam comprises nearly 3 lakh voters, including 65,000 Thakor (OBC) voters, 50,000 Patidars or Patel voters, nearly 35,000 Dalits, 20,000 Bharwad and Rabari community voters, 20,000 Muslims, 18,000 Koli members and 10,000 Karadia (OBC) Rajputs.

    However, this seat has so far given MLAs from different castes, including Tejashree Patel (Patidar), Daudbhai Patel (Muslim) in 1980, Kamabhai Rathod (Karadia Rajput) in 2007 and Lakhabhai Bharwad (OBC).

    “People of Viramgam never vote on caste lines. That is the reason why candidates from different castes have won over the decades. Voters of this seat only see performance and commitment towards people and the party. I am confident of retaining this seat,” said Bharwad when asked if Hardik’s nomination may create trouble for him this time.

    Bharwad is relying on his past performance and the work done for the people or at least raising the issues in the Assembly as well as at the local level to get a solution.

    Both Viramgam Municipality and Taluka Panchayat are with the BJP.

    “Earlier, the condition of roads in the constituency was bad as they were not resurfaced for seven years. But due to my consistent efforts, they have resurfaced. However, the people of Viramgam town are suffering because the BJP is ruling the municipality. People are aware of who is at fault and who did their work,” Bharwad said.

    Some locals also endorsed Bharwad’s claims about the work he had done so far as an MLA.

    “There is no doubt that Patel is more popular. But it is also a fact that Bharwad was active as an MLA and worked hard to resolve our issues, be it bad roads or overflowing gutters. We have seen him on the ground. Though he was not able to solve all the issues, people know that he had tried,” said auto driver Kantilal Parmar.

    Another voter claimed that Hardik’s chances of winning had increased with the renomination of Bharwad.

    “Bharwad is facing anti-incumbency. Looking at the caste equations, Congress should have fielded someone from Thakor community. Now, Hardik’s chances have gone up with Bharwad’s renomination,” he said.

    The Aam Aadmi Party is also in the fray, which initially gave a ticket to one Kunvarji Thakor, before suddenly replacing him with Amarsinh Thakor.

    Kunvarji was unhappy with the development and decided to fight as an independent. In 2017, he contested as an independent and secured fourth place with 10,800 votes.

    One Kirit Rathod, a known Dalit activist from Viramgam, is also in the fray as an independent.

    Many believe that this trio, if they remain in the fray, can disrupt the voting equations and give unexpected results. The last date to withdraw nomination is November 21.

    Hardik, who rose to prominence after leading the Patidar reservation agitation seeking OBC status for the Patidar caste, joined the BJP in June after being with the Congress for nearly two years.

    He is now touring villages of the region.

    In the “list of promises” issued by him, the first one says he will make sure that Viramgam gets the status of a district and rural people are already thanking Patel for taking up this issue.

    “Viramgam is big enough to be declared as a separate district. People have been demanding it for some time. This will resolve many of our problems because we have to travel all the way to Ahmedabad for various works related to the collector’s office or for court-related matters. Hardik has rightly taken up the issue,” said Amrat Patel, a local farmer.

    Other key promises include building a modern sports complex, schools, 50-bed hospitals each in Mandal taluka, Detroj taluka and near Nal Sarovar, 1,000 government houses in Viramgam town, industrial estate, and gardens, among others.

    Notably, the four-page leaflet of promises does not find any mention of the word “Patidar” in it.

    In his short bio, it is mentioned that he was born in a “Hindu family” in Gujarat and his late father Bharatbhai was an active BJP worker in this region.

    Hinting at the EWS (economically weaker sections) quota introduced in Gujarat after his agitation for reservation, the leaflet says Hardik’s “historic agitation” was instrumental in providing many benefits to not just one but several communities.

    “Our campaign is going very strong and people are showering their blessings on Hardik. People are not happy with Congress MLA and they want a change this time. We are confident that people of Viramgam seat will vote for Hardik and once again bring BJP to power in the state,” said Hardik’s campaign manager Dipak Patel.

  • EWS quota resolved many issues of Patels, community standing with BJP this time: Hardik Patel

    By PTI

    AHMEDABAD: The Centre’s decision of 10 per cent EWS reservation without disturbing the existing quota resolved many issues of the Patels in Gujarat and the community will ensure the BJP’s massive victory in the upcoming assembly polls, party leader Hardik Patel said.

    The spearhead of the 2015 Patidar quota stir said the agitation had directly impacted nearly 20 assembly segments in the 2017 Gujarat election.

    He had supported the Congress during the 2017 polls.

    The Centre in January 2019 implemented the 10 per cent reservation for the economically weaker sections (EWS) from the general category by amending the Constitution.

    It also issued instructions for increasing the total number of seats in academic institutions to provide EWS reservations without adversely affecting the proportionate seats of the Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST) and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) categories.

    Earlier this month, the Supreme Court in a 3:2 majority decision upheld the 10 per cent reservation for economically weaker sections (EWS) in admissions and government jobs that excluded the poor among the SCs, STs, and OBCs.

    “Patidars are united and have decided to back Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In the 2017 elections, the issue was different. The 10 per cent EWS quota has extended reservation benefits for the poor and the deprived from other sections while including the Patels of Gujarat. This time, the Patels will ensure that BJP gets a massive majority,” Patel told PTI in an interview.

    He hailed Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, and termed his decision on the EWS quota “historic”.

    It will benefit the poor from more than 50 communities, he said.

    ALSO READ | Tamil Nadu parties turn down 10 per cent EWS quota amendment

    “It (EWS reservation) will immensely benefit the BJP. Last time, the Patidar agitation impacted nearly 20 seats directly and had an indirect effect on many other seats. But now, not only Patels but many communities will get reservation benefits,” Patel said.

    About the impact of AAP’s foray into Gujarat assembly polls, Patel did not see the Arvind Kejriwal-led party posing many challenges to the BJP.

    For him, the Congress is the nearest rival though a distant second in the polls.

    “The AAP is free to contest elections. But it has hurt the religious sentiments of the people of Gujarat with its leader’s remarks against Lord Vishnu and Mahesh. It is fighting the Congress for the same space but as of now it appears the Congress will be a distant second in the elections,” he said.

    On his leaving the Congress to join the BJP, Patel said his issues have been resolved and he was always “BJP-minded and ideologically closer to Hindutva and nationalism”.

    The 29-year-old Hardik Patel rose to prominence as the face of the Patidar agitation in Gujarat between 2015 and 2016.

    He joined the Congress in 2020 and served as its Gujarat unit working president.

    Earlier this year, he crossed over to the BJP which fielded him from the Viramgam constituency in Ahmedabad.

    Party leaders have been calling him a “fighter leader”.

    When asked about chief ministers changing in Gujarat, Hardik said BJP is the party of the entire Gujarati society and “it gives representation to every caste at the appropriate time”.

    “The people of Gujarat have full faith in the BJP. They embrace all its decisions and look at Prime Minister Modi and Amit Shah while voting for the party,” he said.

    AHMEDABAD: The Centre’s decision of 10 per cent EWS reservation without disturbing the existing quota resolved many issues of the Patels in Gujarat and the community will ensure the BJP’s massive victory in the upcoming assembly polls, party leader Hardik Patel said.

    The spearhead of the 2015 Patidar quota stir said the agitation had directly impacted nearly 20 assembly segments in the 2017 Gujarat election.

    He had supported the Congress during the 2017 polls.

    The Centre in January 2019 implemented the 10 per cent reservation for the economically weaker sections (EWS) from the general category by amending the Constitution.

    It also issued instructions for increasing the total number of seats in academic institutions to provide EWS reservations without adversely affecting the proportionate seats of the Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST) and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) categories.

    Earlier this month, the Supreme Court in a 3:2 majority decision upheld the 10 per cent reservation for economically weaker sections (EWS) in admissions and government jobs that excluded the poor among the SCs, STs, and OBCs.

    “Patidars are united and have decided to back Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In the 2017 elections, the issue was different. The 10 per cent EWS quota has extended reservation benefits for the poor and the deprived from other sections while including the Patels of Gujarat. This time, the Patels will ensure that BJP gets a massive majority,” Patel told PTI in an interview.

    He hailed Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, and termed his decision on the EWS quota “historic”.

    It will benefit the poor from more than 50 communities, he said.

    ALSO READ | Tamil Nadu parties turn down 10 per cent EWS quota amendment

    “It (EWS reservation) will immensely benefit the BJP. Last time, the Patidar agitation impacted nearly 20 seats directly and had an indirect effect on many other seats. But now, not only Patels but many communities will get reservation benefits,” Patel said.

    About the impact of AAP’s foray into Gujarat assembly polls, Patel did not see the Arvind Kejriwal-led party posing many challenges to the BJP.

    For him, the Congress is the nearest rival though a distant second in the polls.

    “The AAP is free to contest elections. But it has hurt the religious sentiments of the people of Gujarat with its leader’s remarks against Lord Vishnu and Mahesh. It is fighting the Congress for the same space but as of now it appears the Congress will be a distant second in the elections,” he said.

    On his leaving the Congress to join the BJP, Patel said his issues have been resolved and he was always “BJP-minded and ideologically closer to Hindutva and nationalism”.

    The 29-year-old Hardik Patel rose to prominence as the face of the Patidar agitation in Gujarat between 2015 and 2016.

    He joined the Congress in 2020 and served as its Gujarat unit working president.

    Earlier this year, he crossed over to the BJP which fielded him from the Viramgam constituency in Ahmedabad.

    Party leaders have been calling him a “fighter leader”.

    When asked about chief ministers changing in Gujarat, Hardik said BJP is the party of the entire Gujarati society and “it gives representation to every caste at the appropriate time”.

    “The people of Gujarat have full faith in the BJP. They embrace all its decisions and look at Prime Minister Modi and Amit Shah while voting for the party,” he said.

  • Patidar quota stir: HC removes Hardik’s bail condition of not entering Mehsana removed for a year

    By PTI

    AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat High Court on Friday granted relief to Bharatiya Janata Party leader Hardik Patel by removing for a year a bail condition prohibiting him from entering the state’s Mehsana district in a rioting case connected with the 2015 Patidar quota stir.

    The court of Justice SH Vora granted temporary relief to Patel, who had filed the bail modification petition on November 7 on the ground that he wanted to offer prayers at the temple of his “kuldevi” (local deity).

    The bail condition that he will not enter his home district Mehsana has been removed for a year, Patel’s lawyer Rafik Lokhandwala said.

    Patel was on Thursday declared as the BJP’s candidate for Viramgam seat in Ahmedabad district.

    A Gujarat court had, in July 2018, sentenced Patel and his aides Lalji Patel and AK Patel to two years in jail for rioting and arson that took place on July 23, 2015 in Visnagar town during the Patidar reservation agitation.

    On that day, a mob had torched a car and vandalised the office of Visnagar BJP MLA Rishikesh Patel.

    The Gujarat High Court had, in August 2018, suspended the lower court’s order and granted him bail.

    The HC barred him from entering Mehsana as a bail condition and this continued even as his appeal against conviction remains pending before the court.

    AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat High Court on Friday granted relief to Bharatiya Janata Party leader Hardik Patel by removing for a year a bail condition prohibiting him from entering the state’s Mehsana district in a rioting case connected with the 2015 Patidar quota stir.

    The court of Justice SH Vora granted temporary relief to Patel, who had filed the bail modification petition on November 7 on the ground that he wanted to offer prayers at the temple of his “kuldevi” (local deity).

    The bail condition that he will not enter his home district Mehsana has been removed for a year, Patel’s lawyer Rafik Lokhandwala said.

    Patel was on Thursday declared as the BJP’s candidate for Viramgam seat in Ahmedabad district.

    A Gujarat court had, in July 2018, sentenced Patel and his aides Lalji Patel and AK Patel to two years in jail for rioting and arson that took place on July 23, 2015 in Visnagar town during the Patidar reservation agitation.

    On that day, a mob had torched a car and vandalised the office of Visnagar BJP MLA Rishikesh Patel.

    The Gujarat High Court had, in August 2018, suspended the lower court’s order and granted him bail.

    The HC barred him from entering Mehsana as a bail condition and this continued even as his appeal against conviction remains pending before the court.

  • I will work as Narendra Modi’s soldier, tweets Hardik Patel ahead of joining BJP 

    By PTI

    AHMEDABAD: Once a fierce critic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, former Congress leader Hardik Patel, who is set to join the ruling BJP in Gujarat on Thursday, posted a tweet in the morning saying he would work as a “soldier” of PM Modi and start a “new chapter”.

    Patel is set to join the BJP at 12 pm on Thursday.

    “Today, I am going to start a new chapter keeping in mind the interest of the nation, region, society and community. I will work as a small soldier in the development work of the nation being carried out under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” he said in the tweet.

    Elections to the 182-member House of the Gujarat Assembly are due by the end of this year.

    Patel had earlier led an aggressive agitation to demand quota for the Patidar community and targeted the BJP government time and again.

    He was a very vocal critic of the BJP in the past.

    But the BJP government had slapped several cases against him, including that of sedition.

    Patel, who had joined the Congress in 2019, resigned from the party recently.

    After that, there was a speculation that he might join the ruling BJP.

    He had even praised the BJP’s decision-making capacity and style of functioning, while severely criticising the Congress leadership.

    Before quitting the Congress, Patel had written a scathing letter to party chief Sonia Gandhi, claiming that the Congress “only played the role of a roadblock” over certain key issues in the country and was “merely reduced to opposing everything”.

    Patel first came into limelight in 2015 when he spearheaded the movement demanding reservation for the Patidar community in government jobs and educational institutes.

    Although he joined the opposition Congress in March 2019 ahead of the Lok Sabha election, contesting the parliamentary election was not possible for him due to his conviction in a rioting case.

    He positioned himself as a vocal critic of the BJP and kept targeting the party and its governments in the state and at the Centre for being “anti-poor, anti-farmer and anti-youth”.

    Since he was convicted in rioting and arson cases, it affected his chances of contesting an election.

    However, the Supreme Court recently stayed his conviction.

    Patel, who was charged under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 124(A) (sedition), 121 (A) (conspiracy to wage war against government) and 120 (B) (criminal conspiracy), has been out on bail since 2016.

    The BJP government has recently taken steps to withdraw several cases lodged against Patel and others related to the 2015 reservation agitation and the violence that broke out in which 10 persons, including a policeman, were killed and public properties and vehicles damaged.

  • Amid Hardik Patel row, Gujarat Congress sets target of winning over 125 seats in assembly polls

    By PTI

    AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat Congress has planned a slew of programmes across the state in the coming months in view of the ensuing assembly polls and set an ambitious target of winning more than 125 seats out of the total 182 and forming its government, said a senior party leader on Thursday.

    Grappling with internal dissensions, reflected in the resignation of Gujarat Congress working president Hardik Patel, the party, which is in the opposition in the BJP-ruled state for nearly three decades now, has got into the election mode and is trying to enlist top leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi for its events ahead of polls due by the year-end.

    The party on Thursday convened its Saurashtra Zone meeting in Rajkot to discuss upcoming programmes, especially making 25 new workers on each of the 52,000-odd booths in the state, said Gujarat Congress in-charge Raghu Sharma while speaking at the event.

    After the meeting, Sharma said the party has resolved to form the next government by winning over 125 seats in the 182-member Gujarat assembly.

    In 2017, the Congress had won 77 seats in the state.

    “This meeting of the Saurashtra Zone was attended by MLAs, district unit presidents and senior party leaders of the state and the region. The party has set a target of forming the next government by winning over 125 seats” Sharma told reporters.

    In his address at the meeting, Sharma said in coming days, the party will hold similar meetings in north, south and central Gujarat areas.

    “We have planned a foot march between August 9 and 15. The yatra would cover at least 75 km in each district. We will connect with people through this pad yatra,” said Sharma.

    “We will also launch the ‘Mera Booth Mera Gaurav’ (My booth my pride) initiative to enroll at least 25 new party workers in each of the 52,000-odd booths. This comes to around 13 lakh new workers. This army of 13 lakh workers will help us in winning the polls,” he said.

    In his address, Gujarat Congress president Jagdish Thakor said the party has planned to organise a mass gathering in Bardoli, a town in Surat district closely associated with Sardar Vallabhai Patel, on June 12.

    “We are planning to invite Rahul Gandhi for the rally in Bardoli. In Saurashtra too, we are planning to organise roadshows of Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi on issues concerning farmers, fishermen and unemployed youths,” said Thakor.

  • Hardik quit Cong fearing jail in sedition cases, says party leader; claims his resignation scripted by BJP

    By PTI

    AHMEDABAD: A day after Hardik Patel left the Congress, the party’s Gujarat unit president Jagdish Thakor on Thursday claimed that he took the step as he was afraid that he might have to go to jail in sedition cases registered against him.

    Thakor also claimed that Patel might join the ruling BJP.

    The Congress leader made these claims soon after Patel held a press conference here, in which he alleged that he was not given any meaningful work despite being the working president of the party’s state unit.

    Patel also accused the party of having no vision and its state unit being too much into “caste-based politics”.

    Patel resigned from the Congress on Wednesday, months ahead of the Assembly polls in Gujarat, claiming that top leaders of the party were distracted by their mobile phones and that Gujarat Congress leaders were more interested in arranging chicken sandwiches for them.

    Patel was made the working president in July 2020, a year after he was inducted into the Congress in the presence of Rahul Gandhi.

    Talking to reporters in Rajkot, over 220 kms from here, Thakor alleged that whatever Patel spoke during the press conference earlier in the day and what was written in his resignation letter was scripted by the ruling BJP.

    “Hardik feared that he may have to go to jail in sedition cases if he stays in Congress. Hence, to save himself from the possible punishment, he decided to quit Congress and he might join the BJP as well,” Thakor claimed.

    Patel, who once led the Patidar community’s agitation for reservation, faces nearly 25 criminal cases in Gujarat, including sedition FIRs registered one each in Ahmedabad and Surat.

    Refuting Patel’s allegations that he was sidelined and not given any important work despite being a working president, Thakor said the party had made him a “star campaigner” in the recently-held Assembly polls to five states.

    “Not just that. He was given the facility to travel in helicopters and planes. He was always given importance during the key national-level party meetings,” claimed Thakor, who accused him of being in touch with the BJP for some time.

    “The way he was speaking (against leadership) for the last one month, we had an indication about his next move. We also knew that he was in touch with the BJP. But we were trying to resolve the issue amicably because we were confident that he will not surrender so easily just out of fear of going to jail,” he added.

  • Hardik Patel quits Congress

    By Online Desk

    In a huge blow to the Congress party right before the elections, Hardik Patel resigned on Wednesday. 

    Taking it to Twitter, he said, “I am gathering the courage to resign from the Congress party and post. I am sure my decision will be welcomed by my colleagues and the people of Gujarat. I believe that with this step, I will be able to work really positively for Gujarat in future.”

    आज मैं हिम्मत करके कांग्रेस पार्टी के पद और पार्टी की प्राथमिक सदस्यता से इस्तीफा देता हूँ। मुझे विश्वास है कि मेरे इस निर्णय का स्वागत मेरा हर साथी और गुजरात की जनता करेगी। मैं मानता हूं कि मेरे इस कदम के बाद मैं भविष्य में गुजरात के लिए सच में सकारात्मक रूप से कार्य कर पाऊँगा। pic.twitter.com/MG32gjrMiY
    — Hardik Patel (@HardikPatel_) May 18, 2022
    In a letter to the party head Sonia Gandhi, he said, “Despite several atempts to steer the party in the right direction, the party has constantly been working against the intrest of my country and society.”

  • Rahul ‘in touch’ with Hardik; no idea, says Patel

    Express News Service

    AHMEDABAD:  Ahead of Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Adivasi Satyagrah rally’ on May 10 in Gujarat’s tribal-dominated Dahod town, the vacationing Congress leader has reached out to Hardik Patel, the disgruntled state Congress working president.

    Congress sources said Rahul has sent a personal message to Hardik asking him to stay on in the party. He has also asked the party in-charge and other leaders to reach out to Hardik and sort out differences. Party general secretary Randeep Surjewala confirmed to the media that the leadership has spoken to Hardik Patel.

    However, Hardik told TNIE that so far he had not received any call from the state leadership or any communication about Rahul’s instruction. In Delhi, Surjewala told the media that only state in-charge Raghu Sharma could share details of the communication with Hardik. Raghu Sharma didn’t respond to the calls or messages.

    PCC chief Jagdish Thakore feigned ignorance about any “instruction” being passed to him. “They may have talked through Raghu Sharma. Hardik is with us and Rahul Gandhi is coming to Dahod on May 10. Hardik works with us as a team; he is not going anywhere.

    He is also included in the preparation work for Rahul’s rally,” said Thakore. Angered by the lack of preference given to him by state leadership, Hardik on Monday removed “Congress” from his Twitter bio and a picture of the party symbol from his profile picture.

    Rumours have swirled around over Hardik joining the BJP. Hardik had told TNIE that he is upset with the state leadership, especially with Thakore and Gujarat party in-charge Raghu Sharma. 

  • Ahmedabad Diary

    Express News Service

    Who is stopping Hardik Patel’s saffron camp entry?Recently, Congress working president and Patidar leader Hardik Patel changed his tone and tenor against his leadership, signalling that he would join the BJP. The misfortune of Congress is that from the ward level, the state leaders are threatening to join the BJP. Interestingly, there exists another group in the party which firmly believes against Hardik joining BJP. According to sources, former CM Anandiben Patel and her camp is strongly irked with Hardik’s entry into the BJP. Now, if Hardik has to join BJP he has to line up with Narendra Modi. Back in 2016, the Patidar agitation spearheaded by Hardik had unsettled affairs of the then Anandiben Patel government – eventually leading to her resignation. 

    Defectors insecure as BJP mulls ‘no-repeat’ theory Lobbying by leaders vying for candidature for the Assembly elections of the BJP has begun in full swing. However, Congress defectors to the BJP are in a catch-22 situation for it’s very difficult to get a BJP ticket because of the party’s plan for a ‘no-repeat theory’. If this happens then many veteran leaders of BJP will have to take a step back. According to the source, the tickets of more than 100 leaders who are currently BJP MLAs will be cut. If this happens then their political career is doomed. With less chances of repatriation of such leaders, may are also considering joining the Aam Aadmi Party if the grand old party refuses to welcome them back. 

    Cong’s Ashwin Kotwal likely to join BJPGujarat Congress is in for another setback in the run up to the Assembly polls. According to sources, Khedbrahma’s Congress MLA Ashwin Kotwal will leave the party and join the BJP on May 3. Tribal leader Ashwin Kotwal has been an MLA for 3 consecutive terms. If Ashwin Kotwal leaves Congress, the party could suffer huge losses in the tribal belt. However, he has been upset with the Congress ever since tribal leader Sukhram Rathwa was elevated as opposition leader. Earlier, Ashwin Kotwal had met Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel. Kotwal was absent from Congress’ Adivasi Satyagraha programme despite being a tribal leader. He was also inactive in assembly sessions. 

    Dilip Singh KshatriyaOur correspondent in Gujarat [email protected]

  • Gujarat: Naresh Patel plays a waiting game; says yet to decide on political entry

    Express News Service

    AHMEDABAD: Naresh Patel, an influential Patidar leader, is yet to reveal what his plans are amid speculations that he is set to join the Congress party.

    The head of the Shree Khodaldham Trust which manages the temple of Khodal Mata had visited Delhi lately. However, he denied to the media his Delhi visit had anything to do with politics. He denied having met the congress top brass. He admitted that he met Prashant Kishor. He said that Hardik Patel had met him. But Naresh Patel summed up that he is yet to make up his mind about taking a plunge into politics. On that question, Patel said he will decide by May 15.

    “The decision to enter politics is a serious matter. I do not want to take a decision in a hurry and get into trouble. I have to answer you, and my community too. However, I do not lack decision-making power.  I will announce my decision by May 15 on whether I want to take a plunge into politics or not. Or I will tell you which party I am going to join,” he told media persons.

    “It is true that I met Prashant Kishor earlier. I also met Prashant Kishor at a wedding in Delhi yesterday. I can’t reveal what we discussed there. Apart from this, I also met Hardik Patel a few days ago. He has two or three questions. We are thinking of solving it,” he hinted. 

    “People say that Prashant Kishor has joined the Congress. But I cannot say anything specifically, I am not an authorized person to speak about it. And, yes there are rumours that Hardik Patel is going to join BJP. And if he does so then that is his personal decision.” 

    However, after the denial of Naresh Patel, sources say he had a meeting with top congress leaders. Importantly, sources said earlier Prashant Kishor had urged Naresh Patel to join the Congress, while Naresh Patel had laid down the conditions for joining the congress only if Prashant Kishor joined the Congress. Earlier, Naresh Patel has held meetings with Congress, BJP, and AAP leaders.

    Meanwhile, Gujarat Congress In-charge Raghu Sharma Said “Naresh Patel is a social and respected leader. It is a pleasure if he had met the Congress High Command. A leader like Naresh Patel is welcome in the Congress. His presence will make the party stronger.”

    Meanwhile, Hardik Patel has changed his social media DP today. Earlier, his WhatsApp DP had a Congress symbol and it said, “I will fight and win.” Hardik’s DP was still the same till yesterday, i.e. till April 22. But today, his DP has changed and he put a formal photo. However, Hardik’s Facebook page and Twitter handle have the same profile picture with the congress logo. 

    It may be recalled that Hardik Patel had praised the BJP on Friday.