The Patidar agitation leader, Hardik Patel on Wednesday in a press conference announced his support to the Congress in the upcoming Gujarat assembly elections. He said that the Congress has put forth an option of giving reservation to the Payidars under special category and the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) is satisfied with it and will support the party.
The announcement of Hardik has definitely left the ruling BJP a little anxious, however, the party is still confident that it will win the polls with a three-fourths majority. Reacting to the announcement of Hardik Patel, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley slashed down on Patel and Congress saying that “The Congress-Hardik club is one of mutual deception. The law of the land is very clear. It has been laid down by the SC and reaffirmed in Rajasthan. 50 percent cap cannot be breached. They are deceiving each other as well as the voters by saying that they will devise a method of breaching the cap.”
BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi confidently claimed that with the support and love of the people of Gujarat, BJP will surely once again win the assembly elections with a clear majority. Mocking on the slogan used by the Congress that development has gone crazy in Gujarat, he said that those who are speaking against development will themselves face the defeat.
Another BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain said that, no matter how much they try Congress will never win the polls. Congress does not have faith in itself and is hence finding alliances to fight against the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he added. He claimed that Congress can try whatever they want to, but in the end, BJP will nail the victory with a three-fourths majority.
Meanwhile, Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister, Nitin Patel called both the Congress and the PAAS as fools. He said that “Fools made a proposal and fools have accepted it. Hardik Patel knows that over 50 percent reservation is not possible. He has not discussed with members of Patidar community about an alliance with the Congress. In the name of reservation, the Congress has given a ‘lollipop’ to Hardik who has always spoken the language of the Congress.”
Nitin also alleged that the Congress will not keep up with its words. He said that “Hardik speaks about reservation as if he is a constitutional lawyer. He has no idea about the Supreme Court judgments on reservations in the country. Hardik can sell himself to anyone he likes, but he has no right to sell the Patidars who are descendants of Sardar Patel… He has lost the right to utter Sardar Patel’s name and has divided the Patidars.”
On the other hand, Hardik seems to be adamant about defeating BJP in Gujarat. Earlier in his statement, he had alleged that the BJP had offered him Rs 1200 crore to quit the protest for reservation when he was in jail, but he did not accept the offer. Recently, during the press conference also, Hardik accused, BJP of giving bribe to the voters. He said that the BJP is offering Rs 1000 to every person who ever cast their votes for the party.
Responding to all the statements and remarks of BJP, Gujarat Congress in Charge, Ashok Gehlot said that “Hardik Patel has sworn to end the poor governance in Gujarat and his comments are based on that. The accusations made by Hardik that BJP is trying to divide the Patidars is true.
Ashok Gehlot further added that the Prime Minister should give it a thought that why is there a need for him to go to every district to campaign. People of Gujarat have decided that this time they want a Congress government this time in the state, he added.
While, though the NCP has declared that they will fight the elections alone as Congress is not serious about the alliance, there is speculation that both the parties might come together against BJP in the second phase of the elections.
NCP General Secretary, Tariq Anwar said that “Hardik Patel has always been against the BJP and his decision to back the Congress is right.” He further added that “unfortunately, so far the NCP has not joined the Congress, but we are trying if the two parties can come together in the second phase of the election as this would be beneficial for both the parties.
Both BJP and Congress are claiming that they will win the elections this time, but who sits on the throne and who is shown the exit door will only be confirmed after the results are declared on 18 Dec. These elections are very crucial for BJP from both image and political point of view. BJP has been ruling in Gujarat for 22 years and if the party loses now it will be a major setback for the party ahead of the Lok Sabha elections which are due in 2019.