Gujarat Assembly Elections 2017: PASS convenor Ashwin Patel extends support to BJP

In a major political development that may stir political equations in Gujarat, the Patidar Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti (PASS) has announced to extend its support to BJP in the upcoming Assembly elections.

PASS national convenor Ashwin Patel has accused Hardik Patel of betraying the Patidar community to gratify his political ambitions.

In an exclusive interview to India TV, Ashwin alleged that Hardik used the Patidar community as a weapon and got 14 innocent people killed in 2014 to fulfil his political goals.

The leader also likened Hardik Patel with Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, while saying "like Kejriwal hijacked the Anna movement, Hardik hijacked the Patidar movement for his own political goals. He is the Kerjiwal of Gujarat," said Ashwin.

On why the community has decided to support the BJP, "Ashwin said that the saffron party is both at the Centre and state, which will make it easy to take decision that favors the community."

He also said that he will meet BJP National President Amit Shah this week and discuss how the reservations of the Patidar community should be planned and implemented.

Now, BJP which has already made provision for 10% EBC quota (now in legal dispute) has intensified its attack on Hardik saying he was adamant on OBC quota so he must now clarify whether Congress was going to give that to him.

Congress has already made its stand clear that it would give 20% EBC quota if voted to power. If Hardik accepts this offer he would face internal opposition.

Meanwhile, Hardik Patel had on Saturday asked the Congress to make its stand clear by November 3 on how it would ensure reservation for the Patidar community.

Hardik Patel, 23, has been spearheading an agitation since July 2015 for quotas for the Patel community in education and government jobs.

Recently, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani had said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is confident that the Patidar community is still with party and will support the ruling party in the upcoming Assembly elections, which is scheduled to be held before December 18 this year.

The Gujarat Assembly polls are scheduled to be held in two phases on December 9 and December 14.

With just a few weeks to go to the polls, the Patidars seem to have emerged as the tipping factors in the electoral see-saw of Gujarat.

OneIndia News