In a significant political development, Patidar leaders Reshma Patel and Varun Patel officially joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) following a meeting with the party’s national president, Amit Shah, in Ahmedabad on Saturday. This move comes as the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) unveiled its initial list of 11 candidates for the upcoming Gujarat assembly elections, signaling a competitive political landscape.
Reacting to the Patidar leaders’ shift to the BJP, Hardik Patel, the convenor of the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS), took to Twitter with a metaphorical statement: “Even if a centipede loses its legs, it can still run. The people stand with me, and I will continue to fight as long as they do.” His remarks underscored his determination to advocate for the Patidar community’s rights despite the political realignments.
In another notable development, Alpesh Thakor, a prominent Other Backward Class (OBC) leader, announced his decision to join the Congress party after meeting with its vice-president, Rahul Gandhi, in New Delhi. According to the ANI news agency, Thakor confirmed that Gandhi would accompany him at a rally in Ahmedabad on Monday. Thakor, who leads the OBC SC ST Ekta Manch, emphasized his commitment to strengthening the Congress’s position in Gujarat.
Earlier in the day, Bharatsinh Solanki, the Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee chief, revealed during a press conference that the party was prepared to offer election tickets to key leaders, including Thakor, Hardik Patel, Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani, and Chhotubhai Vasava, the sole Janata Dal (United) MLA in the state. The move aimed to forge a strong alliance to challenge the ruling BJP in the upcoming polls. However, Hardik Patel declined the offer, stating on Twitter, “I have no desire to contest elections. Our fight is for rights, justice, and against arrogance. Victory will be ours.”
The political atmosphere in Gujarat continues to heat up as the state prepares for elections, which are scheduled to take place before December 18. Chief Election Commissioner A.K. Joti confirmed the timeline last week while announcing the election dates for Himachal Pradesh. With key leaders aligning with different parties and alliances forming, the Gujarat assembly elections promise to be a closely watched contest.