Influential Patidar leader from Gujarat, Naresh Patel, is likely to join the Congress. He is expected to meet Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Saturday.
The BJP, the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party, for the last few months, have been trying to woo the Leuva Patidar leader to join politics. Patel, however, being courted by all major political parties ahead of the Assembly elections in the state later this year, had not joined any party. He had said that he will make a decision when his Patel Samaj tells him to.
Naresh Patel heads the Shree Khodaldham Trust (SKT), which manages the temple of Maa Khodiyar, widely revered an respected by the Leuva Patel community. Though Leuva Patels are a sub-caste of the Patidar community residing mainly in Gujarat, Naresh Patel reportedly enjoys an influence on the entire Patidar community.
Patel or Patidar community vote is consider crucial in the Western state and can help make or break any government there.
Hardik Patel, Congress’ working President in the state, had recently criticised the Congress party and said that the Patidars leaders and Naresh Patel were being insulted by the party.
“Patidar helped Congress win good numbers in the 2017 elections. Now, Congress is insulting the same Patidars and Khodaldham Trust President, Naresh Patel. In the last two years, we have heard so much about Naresh Patel joining politics. Why is the party taking so much time to make the decision? Why is Congress insulting Naresh Patel and the Patidars? Is it so difficult to make this decision?” Hardik Patel had asked.
After Hardik Patel’s statement, state party leaders had called on him to discuss the matter.
Elections to the 182-member Gujarat Assembly are expected later this year.
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