Hardik Patel Confirms He is Joining Congress, May Contest From Jamnagar in 2019 Lok Sabha Elections
According to reports, Hardik Patel is likely to join the Congress on March 12 in the presence of party chief Rahul Gandhi.
Ahmedabad, March 7: Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) leader Hardik Patel will join the Congress party soon. Along with Hardik Patel, five other members of the PAAS core group will join the Congress. While Hardik confirmed he is going to join the Congress, he didn't reveal much. According to reports, he is likely to join the Congress on March 12 in the presence of party chief Rahul Gandhi.
Speaking to a leading daily on reports of he joining the Congress, Patel said: "I have come to know about the news of my joining the Congress only from local newspapers, but when and where I will join, I cannot confirm. In the next couple of days, it will be confirmed." He said he will meet Congress leaders in the next couple of days and then a date will be fixed. Local media reported that Patel may contest from Jamnagar parliamentary seat in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Hardik Patel Marries Childhood Friend Kinjal Parikh At Low-Key Wedding Ceremony in Gujarat.
"If the party wishes, I may contest elections," Patel said. The Jamnagar Lok Sabha seat is currently represented by Poonamben Maadam of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Patel's joining will coincide with the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting in Ahmedabad, following which top party leaders will address a public rally there. Congress is facing rebellions within the party after its unimagined performance in the last assembly polls in the state. 'We Are Fighting Against Thieves', Says Hardik Patel at Opposition Rally.
Congress had won 77 seats in Gujarat assembly elections, held in December 2017. However, its number has now gone down to 74. Congress MLA Kunwarji Bavaliya crossed over to the BJP, while Unjha legislator Asha Patel quit. Another Congress MLA Bhagabhai Barad was recently disqualified after his conviction in a mining case. Congress is focussing on Gujarat, the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 07, 2019 04:16 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).