AHMEDABAD: Post Hardik Patel’s exit, the Congress has suffered yet another setback in Gujarat. Patidar leader and chairman of the influential Khodaldham Trust, Naresh Patel, has scotched rumours of his joining politics.
At a presser at Kagwad, near Rajkot, Patel said, “I will not join politics.” The Congress was hoping to inject some life into its campaign, at least in the Saurashtra region, by capitalising on Patel’s social standing. Patel had also met party chief Sonia Gandhi.
Sources say his decision was based on the state of affairs within the Congress. “He was in talks with election strategist Prashant Kishore, who was also expected to join the Congress,” said a source. “With Kishore refusing to join, there wasn’t much that the Congress could offer Patel to have ensure his steady political career,” said a party leader.
Patel indicated that he was serious about joining politics. “The lockdown provided me with a lot of time. I read about Sardar Patel and other freedom fighters. I felt that joining politics can also help in serving people. This was my opinion. So I decided to get the opinion of the people. We did a survey,” said Patel. The result of the survey was surprising. “Half of the elders surveyed do not want me to join politics, whereas women and 80% of the youth want me to be in politics,” he said, adding that if he joined any party, many projects of Khodaldham would suffer.
“The focus should be on these projects so that people belonging to all communities are benefited,” said Patel. BJP state president CR Patil said Patel was entitled to his opinion. “He is competent enough to take the decision.” Patel’s support could have been crucial in Saurashtra. He belongs to the Leuva sub-caste of the Patidars whose population is spread across the state.
Congress dejected
An air of despondency descended over the Congress in Gujarat after Naresh Patels’ decision. “We had made all preparations to welcome him. He had to make a decision,” state party chief Jagdish Thakor said