Gujarat polls: Hardik sides with Rahul Gandhi, says Patels stand with Congress now

Hardik said that Patidar leaders have not sought any ticket from the Congress.

Patidar leader Hardik Patel on Wednesday declared that the Congress party has agreed to the demands of his community in the wake of the upcoming Gujarat Assembly elections.

Addressing mediapersons on Wednesday, the Patel leader said that the Congress has assured the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) of going ahead with the resevation sought by the Patidar community if they win the elections.

Alleging that some communities have been given more than adequate reservation, Patel said that though the "Congress party is not a relative, it has talked about a survey on OBC quota".

"When the survey takes place, everything will be crystal clear in front of people," he said. "Congerss will have to put their reservation formula with details in their manifesto".

He further said that Patel leaders have not sought any ticket from the Congress, but all they want is reservation.

The 24-year-old leader asserted that all that the Patidar community wants is the right to study and employment.

Talking about the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Patel said that he had no enmity with the ruling party, but added that they do not bother about the welfare of 6 crore people of Gujarat.

"I will make all efforts to fight against the BJP because they have compromised the well being of the people of Gujarat and have disrespected the Patidar community," he said, adding that the BJP was making attempts to break the Patidars.

The Patidar leader also dismissed reports of him joining any political party. "I am not going to join any party for at least next two years," Patel said.

Hardik Patel also alleged horse trading attempts by the BJP saying, "Several horse trading attempts being made with our conveners in North Gujarat, Rs 50 lakh being offered. BJP using its tactics as it fears defeat".

The press conference by the Patel leader confirms reports that said that the Gujarat Congress and PAAS members had reached an agreement over granting reservation to the Patidar community. After a meeting between Patel's aide and Gujarat Congress leaders on Sunday, PAAS convenor Dinesh Bambhania had said, ""Earlier, we had asked the Congress to clarify how they would grant Patidars a constitutionally valid reservation. Today, we held a crucial meeting on that issue and finally reached a consensus on various options offered by the party to us. The official announcement of this agreement will be made by Hardik tomorrow in Rajkot."

Meanwhile, the Congress on Sunday released the first list of its 77 candidates for the elections with senior leaders from the state Shaktisinh Gohil and Arjun Modhwadia getting tickets.

The polling for the two-phase elections in Gujarat will take place on December 9 and 14 and votes will be counted on December 18.