Hardik meets NCP’s Praful Patel, keeps Congress guessing

What is Hardik Patel up to? The Patidar Anantmat Aandolan Samiti (PAAS) leader held a meeting with NCP leaders Praful Patel and Jayant Patel and this has set tongues wagging.

The meeting comes in the wake of talks between the Congress, Hardik and Jignesh Mevani remaining inconclusive. The meeting with the NCP could send jitters in the Congress camp as it has not been able to make any major breakthrough with Patel. The meeting with Praful Patel could well be a ploy by Hardik to step up the heat on the Congress which is yet to accept his demands.

The Congress has accepted four of his demands so far. Only his demand on the OBC quota is pending. Sources say that a meeting of Rahul Gandhi and Hardik will take place once the latter's tour of Gujarat is over. The Congress says it is hopeful that the meeting will be fruitful and the two sides would be on track ahead of the Gujarat Assembly Elections.

Hardik however rejected talks of a political affiliation. He said that the meeting was an informal one and more of a courtesy call. Although Hardik said that the meeting was not political, reports suggest that the NCP which would field candidates in all Gujarat constituencies had sought his support.

OneIndia News