GUJ POLLS: Deep faultlines between key Patel sects

Even as veteran Leuva Patel leader Naresh Patel, being desperately wooed by the BJP, the Congress and AAP, is almost likely to throw his weight behind the Congress, the divide between the two powerful and estranged sects of the Patidars -- Leuva and Kadva Patels -- seems to have widened ahead of the December

Naresh Patel, at the end of the day, remains the man to be watched. The rumour mill has it that Naresh Patel is master poll strategist Prashant Kishore’s choice as the Gujarat Congress’ chief ministerial candidate, should the former take up the Congress strategy assignment for the State or join the party, as is being speculated. Naresh Patel apparently sees this as his huge opportunity to plunge into politics straightaway as a CM candidate, though he has kept his cards close to his chest so far and said he would announce his decision appropriately after April 15.

Gujarat elections.

This was evident through two key events of both the sects held parallelly in the all-important Saurashtra region on Sunday.

If the powerful Leuva Patidars’ Khodaldham Temple Trust chairman Naresh Patel, held parleys with OBC Koli Patel leaders in Rajkot district, the Umiyadham Temple Trust of the Kadva Patels held another event in Jamnagar district with Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel being honoured by the community.

It is known that Naresh Patel, an industrialist who had set up the popular Khodaldham Temple at Kagvad in Rajkot,

is being wooed by the BJP, the Congress and even the fledgling Aam Aadmi Party for his influence on the Leuva Patels, who form a huge majority in Saurashtra region.

Since his father was a dyed-in-the-wool Congressman and he has held nearly a dozen meetings with the Congress leadership from Gujarat to Delhi in recent months, it is believed Naresh Patel may join the Congress. The BJP, which has already had some meetings with him, seems to have given up on him and is focussing on strengthening the Kadva Patel vote -- Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel is a Kadva Patel.

PARALLEL EVENT

A parallel event was held to celebrate the silver jubilee of the Umiyadham Mata Temple Trust – Umiya mata, the deity of the Kadva Patels in Gujarat – as well as to inaugurate the newly-constructed Umiyadham at Sidsar in Jamjodhpur taluka of Jamnagar district. CM Bhupendra Patel, a Kadva Patidar, another Patidar minister Brijesh Merja, MP Mohan Kundaria and other prominent BJP leaders were present at this event. Interestingly, Naresh Patel was also sent an invite for this event but he was not there. It is clear now that the Leuvas and Kadvas may vote across both the BJP and Congress, in the coming elections.