Cong may project a Patel as CM face in Guj

In a bid to woo Patidars in Gujarat, the Congress is considering projecting a Patel as its chief ministerial candidate for next year’s assembly elections in the state.

The party is keen to tap the “Patidars’ growing angst” over the perceived neglect of the community by the ruling BJP, especially on the reservation issue. The move to replace Anandiben Patel with Vijay Rupani as the chief minister has also not gone down well with the community members.

A group of 17 Patel leaders, led by former Gujarat Congress chief Siddharth Patel, met party vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday to discuss the issues related to the Patidars, who constitute about 14-15% of the state’s population. Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s political secretary Ahmed Patel was also present.

The BJP has been at the receiving end of Patels for many months now. Following a nine-month long sustained agitation led by Hardik Patel, the BJP government tried to placate the Patidars by announcing 10% reservation for economically backward classes (EBCs) in May this year. However, the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS), led by Hardik, rejected the move. As part of its strategy, the Congress promised 20% reservation for EBCs among the upper castes if it comes to power after December 2017 polls.

Siddharth Patel, a legislator from Dabhoi (Vadodra) and son of former two-time Gujarat chief minister Chimanbhai Patel, has been touring the state to woo the Patidars and is also said to be in constant touch with Hardik.

Congress sources said the party is keen to have Hardik in its fold but the Patidar leader is yet to make up his mind as far as his political future is concerned.