Hardik Patel likely to join BJP coming week

Onetime Congress-face in Gujarat for some time and noted Patidar leader Hardik Patel in all probability will be joining BJP either on Monday or Tuesday.

Union Ministers Mansukh Mandaviya and Parshottam Rupala may be present on the occasion in Gandhinagar, sources said.

Hardik Patel also has hinted at contesting the fast approaching assembly elections.

Hardik had shot into face for his role as the convener of the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) in 2015.

He quit Congress on May 18 this year and has criticised Congress. On Veer Savarkar’s birthday on May 28, Hardik paid tribute to him and tweeted: “Remembering the virtuous son of Bharat Mata, the ardent nationalist and great thinker Shri Vinayak Damodar ‘Veer’ Savarkar ji on his birth anniversary.”

Nothing is more permanent in electoral politics than the caste factor. It was quite strong in Gujarat
much prior to the BJP era.

The KHAM card was one of the chiefly discussed political subject and it meant Kshatriyas, Harijan (Dalit), Adivasis (Tribal) and Muslims. Narendra Modi laid emphasis on inclusive growth and development of all.

His pan-image and a strong pro-Hindutva leader and a catalyst of change helped the Lotus party immensely.

But once he moved to Delhi as the Prime Minister and the issues of reservation or quota for job and education were raised, people in general and the Patidar community had grown emotive.

In fact, in the 2017 assembly polls, three youngsters Hardik Patel, Alpesh Thakor and Jignesh Mewani
entered the scene and got associated with Congress.

The caste game was back. Hardik is a Patel, Alpesh a Kshatriya and Jignesh a Dalit.

But now things have changed. Alpesh Thakor had won the 2017 assembly polls as a Congress candidate is now with the BJP.

Jignesh’s radical Left politics and involvement in the Bhima Koregaon case of 2018 in Maharashtra cannot go well the Gujarat voters. Even a section of Congress now thinks he may turn out to be a liability.

He also faces a number of cases including recent ones in Assam.

So, if Hardik joins BJP, the triumvirs created by Congress and others to fight the BJP would have
been defeated and splintered.