Will work to defeat BJP in Guj: Mewani
Patidar chief Hardik Patel and dalit leader Jignesh Mewani will hold joint meetings in reserved seats in Gujarat starting November 25, with a huge rally in Ahmedabad on December 6.
The dalit leader said he was not extending support to any party and meetings with Congress’ Rahul Gandhi didn’t mean there was any adjustment with the Congress.
“Our only aim is to defeat the BJP,” Mr Mewani said.
Patidar leader Hardik Patel and Dalit activist turned-politician, Jignesh Mewani, will hold a series of joint public meetings in reserved constituencies of Gujarat beginning November 25. The series of meetings would be capped by a huge public rally in Ahmedabad on December 6, the death anniversary of BRA mb edkar.“F or the rally in Ahmedabad, we are eyeing a gathering of at least 50,000 to 1,00,000,” he said on Wednesday.
The Dalit leader, who has come into prominence since the public floggings of Dalits in Una last year, however claimed that he was not extending support to any political party and meetings with Congress vicepresident Rahul Gandhi does not mean that there was some political adjustments being made with the Congress.
“Our aim is to defeat the BJP,” he said, explaining that if at all his supporters contest polls, it would be as independent candidates and not on the Congress symbol.
Mr Mewani said that though there were many social contradictions among Patels, Dalits and the OBCs led by Alpesh Thakore, who has joined the Congress, all the communities were united in their need to overthrow the BJP government in the state. “The farmers, Asha workers, small traders are all united. The amount of dissatisfaction people have with the government in Gujarat is unprecedented. This is not inclusive development.”