As Rahul Gandhi Woos Patidars, Gujarat Government Meets Hardik Patel -10facts

Patel, is Hardik Patel, the 24-year-old face of the Patidar agitation.

Rahul Gandhi is on a three-day tour of the politically important Saurashtra region, dominated by the Patels, who have for years been loyal to the BJP.

Assembly elections are due by December and Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi is on a three-day tour of the politically important Saurashtra region, dominated by the Patels, who have for years been loyal to the BJP. This time they are upset with the BJP government for turning down their demand for reservation.

Hardik Patel, who was in jail on sedition charges for months, has vowed to teach the BJP a lesson. As Rahul Gandhi landed in Gujarat yesterday, the young activist welcomed him in a tweet. In Jamnagar, in the heart of Patel territory, locals greeted Mr Gandhi today with "Jai Patidar, Jai Sardar'' slogans.

Rahul Gandhi took a dig at the Gujarat government's handling of the Patel reservation when he said, ''Modi government fired bullets at Patidars when they raised their demands. But we want to look at their demands with compassion and dialogue.''

In Gandhinagar, Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel will discuss anew the Patidar demand for reservation. The Gujarat government had called for today's meeting last week as the BJP tries to limit damage after former chief minister Anandiben Patel was seen to mishandle the massive



stir.

While Vijaya Rupani was appointed Chief Minister to steer the party into the assembly elections after Anandiben stepped down last year, Nitin Patel, who is a Patidar, was appointed Deputy Chief Minister with the specific task of pacifying the community.

Nitin Patel heads a panel of ministers to interface with the Patel leaders, who represent about a half a dozen organisations, including Hardik Patel's Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS).

Hardik Patel has come for today's meeting armed with specific demands and conditions. He has said that apart from specific reservation demand, he wants justice for those killed during reservation stir and dropping of charges against Patidar youths.

Hardik Patel has earlier indicated that he may consider supporting the Congress in the Assembly elections if it promises reservation for Patidars under the quota for Other Backward Classes (OBC), if elected.

Saurashtra, the region Rahul Gandhi is touring, accounts for 58 of Gujarat's 182 assembly seats. In the last elections, the BJP had won 37 and the Congress 16 seats in the region.

The Congress began its Gujarat campaign much later than the BJP, whose chief Amit Shah has made multiple visits to the state since early this year and has set a target for his party of winning 150 of the state's 182 assembly seats. Rahul Gandhi had visited the state last month to kick off his party's campaign.