Cong ticket is likely for Hardik Patel

Hardik Patel, the leader of Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti, which is fighting for reservation benefits, made it known on Wednesday that he proposes to contest the ensuing Lok Sabha elections.

He, however mum on the seat he will contest as well as the political label he may opt for, though he is clear that the BJP would be his principal opponent.

This was apparent when he praised West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee

and her decision to play an overarching role in keeping the Opposition glued together. ‘‘The anti-BJP environment needs to be shored up,” he said, indicating his firm resolve to contest having finally crossed the minimum threshold limit of 25 years. His announcement was welcomed by the Gujarat Congress which is inclined to give him a party ticket, if he opts for one. The party may offer him the Amreli seat in the Saurashtra region where the Patidar quota agitation has made a very good impact; the Congress had won all the seven seats in the district in the 2017 state Assembly elections. The sister Patidar organisations, co-travellers in the Patidar stir, did not seem to be happy at the move.