HARDIK REMOVES CONG REFERENCE FROM TWITTER BIO, SAYS NOT CHANGING PARTY
AHMEDABAD: Prominent Patidar leader and working president of the Congress’s Gujarat unit, Hardik Patel, has removed the name of the party from his Twitter bio, sparking speculation that he was on his way out.
The move came a day before the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is set to induct a “senior Congress leader” into the state unit. Patel has been vocal of late about his displeasure with the state Congress ranks.
However, when contacted, Patel told HT: “The same picture and profile that is being talked about also shows the Congress party symbol. That, I think explains everything.” He said he was still with the Congress.
Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee spokesperson Manish Doshi also said that Patel was still with the party and had not resigned from any party posts. “Instead of focusing on Patel’s display picture, the real issues like inflation and unemployment should be the focus of discussion,” said Doshi.
Patel came into the limelight in 2015 at the helm of a quota agitation for his community — a movement that pitted him strongly against the Bjp-led state government at the time. He joined the Congress ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections but did not contest because of a conviction in a rioting and arson case. In April this year, the Supreme Court had put a stay on the conviction and allowed him to contest elections.
On April 22, Patel had told reporters: “I have expressed my concerns to the party high command and I am told that a decision will be arrived at shortly. I am sure any decision taken will be taken keeping in mind the interests of the people of Gujarat.”