Gujarat will be holding the assembly election before 18 Dec, and this time Congress seems to be rather serious about getting the throe by hook or by crook. Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi has recently been quite active in the political fronts in Gujarat and has been heading the election campaign in the state.
As the elections are nearing, Congress with the aim to get the majority of the people to their side is taking every possible step. Adamant to win the support, the party has also asked the asked dissident leaders even of the opposition parties to come together and fight the elections.
Gujarat Congress President Bharat Singh Solanki invited JDU’s Chhotu Vasava to contest the election. In addition, he has also invited Jignesh Mawni who is the leader of the Dalits in Gujarat and Alpesh Thakor, the leader of the OBC community. Congress is trying to lure all those people who are currently against the ruling BJP government. The biggest name among the leaders, that the Congress is trying to lure is that of the leader of the Patidars, Hardik Patel.
The Patidars hold almost one-fifth of the population of Gujarat and if Congress is successful in getting the support of the Patidars than the victory can be a major concern for BJP. The Patidars are angry with the government and have been protesting against the BJP in Gujarat as the government is not granting them the reservation for the community.
Taking advantage of this criticism and agitation of the Patidars against the ruling government, Congress is trying its best to get Hardik Patel on its side. The Patidar leader was also seen welcoming the Congress leader and moving along with Rahul Gandhi during the Congress election campaign.
However, Patel, a few days back had also given the statement that it is not like that he is supporting Congress, but he will do everything to defeat BJP in Gujarat. Hardik Patel very tactfully avoided his support to Congress but also openly declared its rivalry with BJP. Reacting to this move of Congress of inviting Hardik Patel to contest the election, the Patidar leader termed the move to be a political stunt.
Bharat Solanki the Congress party President of Congress during a press conference said that Hardik Patel has been leading a protest against the ruling BJP for quite some time now demanding for the reservation of the Patidars. He said that the demands of the Patidars is genuine and the Congress has invited Patel to join the party.
Hardik Patel, in a statement, responding to his decision on the call of Congress said that” it is good that the Congress has invited us, we will decide as to what final decision is to be taken.” He further added that legally he cannot contest the elections and he even does not want to fight the polls. Though he agreed to the point that if the Congress wishes to fight and win against a proud party like the BJP, it is necessary that all the opposition and different communities come together to fight against the ruling government.
But he also told that this election is not about the fight between BJP and Congress, it is about the fight between BJP and the 6 crore people of Gujarat. Hardik, to some extent, has made it clear that he is not interested in fighting the elections, all he wants is that the demands of the Patidars be granted.
In such situation, where, Patel has almost declined the invitation of Congress, now the party is keeping high hopes form Alpesh Thakor, the OBC community holds almost 54% of the vote bank in Gujarat.