Hardik Patel, furious and publicly lashing out against his bosses months before assembly polls, made it clear that the Congress is a house divided, with even its working president unhappy.
Inducted in the Congress by Rahul Gandhi just before the 2017 Gujarat election, Hardik Patel was a force to reckon with and reason behind Congress’ spirited fight in 2017 assembly polls. The Patidar leader, however, has now exposed the internal turmoil in the opposition party as he accused the leadership of sidelining him. He is not invited to any meeting of the state Congress unit and he is never consulted before decisions, Patel reportedly said.
The Indian Express quoted Patel as saying: “My position in the party is that of a new groom who has been made to undergo nasbandi (vasectomy).”
Hardik Patel is also believed to be upset at the way the party has handled the induction of another leader of the community, Naresh Patel.
The comments, that could put embattled Congress in to troubled waters, as the Gujarat assembly elections are approaching in the second half of the year, where the GOP is in direct fight with the BJP.
“The talk doing the rounds on the induction of Naresh Patel in the Congress is insulting for the entire community. It has been over two months now. Why has no decision been taken yet? The Congress high command or local leadership should take a quick decision about Naresh Patel’s induction,” Hardik said.
After the Supreme Court stayed his conviction in a 2015 case registered during the Patidar agitation, Hardik has expressed an intention to fight polls. His comments came a day after that.
Hardik Patel said the Patidar quota agitation had helped the Congress win a significant number of seats in the elections to local bodies in 2015 and the 2017 state election in Gujarat. The Congress had won 77 constituents in the 182-member assembly in 2017 election.
“But what happened after that? Many in Congress also feel that Hardik Patel was not properly utilised by the party after 2017. It may be because some people in the party would think that I would come in their way after five or 10 years if I am given significance today,” he said.
He said the Congress had benefited “because of us (the Patel community)” in the 2017 polls.
“Now, as I am seeing on TV, the party wants to induct Naresh Patel for the 2022 polls. I hope they do not search for a new Patel for the 2027 elections. Why does the party not utilise the people they already have?” he questioned, asking the party not to “insult” him.
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