New Delhi: Speculation about Hardik Patel joining the BJP has intensified after the Patidar leader posted a WhatsApp profile picture of him wearing a saffron dupatta. A few days back, he removed the Congress symbol from the profile picture.
The political rhetoric around Hardik Patel is intensifying after he expressed his displeasure over the “working style” of the Gujarat Congress a few days ago when he claimed that he had been sidelined in the state unit and the leadership was under his leadership. Unwilling to use skills.
Interestingly, Hardik (who is the working president of the state Congress) expressed his displeasure a day after he hinted at contesting the elections after the Supreme Court stayed his sentence in the 2015 riots and arson case.
In 2015, Hardik had led a campaign by the Patidar community demanding reservation under the OBC category in Gujarat. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Hardik questioned the Congress leadership over the “delay” in inducting popular Patidar leader Naresh Patel into the party.
He said, “The kind of talks that are taking place regarding the inclusion of Naresh Patel in Congress is disrespectful to the entire community. It has been more than two months now. Why has no decision been taken yet? Congress. The high command or the local leadership should take a quick decision about Naresh Patel’s involvement.”
Hardik claimed that the Patidar reservation movement helped the Congress win a large number of seats in local bodies elections in the 2015 and 2017 assembly elections, when the opposition party won 77 constituents in the 182-member House.
Assembly elections are due in Gujarat in December this year. Meanwhile, days after Gujarat Congress working president Hardik Patel expressed displeasure with the party leadership, the state unit of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) invited him to join it.
AAP’s state unit leader Gopal Italia told reporters, “Hardik Patel has emerged as a leader on his own. He has expressed displeasure at the Congress leadership. We need leaders like you Hardik in Gujarat. Hardik should not waste time in taking up his case with the Congress leadership, as it will not yield any result.
first published:April 25, 2022, 1:44 p.m.
