Gujarat election not a 2-party fight, says Hardik Patel on Congress' offer to join hands

Congress today extended invitation to caste-based leaders including Patidar leader Hardik Patel to jointly contest the Gujarat election. Hardik Patel, however, has said that Gujarat election is not a Congress-BJP fight.

 

IndiaToday.in  | Edited by Prabhash K Dutta
Ahmedabad, October 21, 2017 | UPDATED 15:34 IST

Patidar leader Hardik Patel today kept the Congress guessing after the grand old party invited him to join hands to fight the BJP in the upcoming Gujarat election.

Responding to a question about Congress's offer to jointly fight against the BJP, Hardik Patel said that the Gujarat election was not a fight between the two biggest parties.

"Although I believe we must unite against the BJP, this isn't a BJP-Congress election. This is an election of 6 crore people of Gujarat," Hardik Patel said in Ahmedabad, adding that "we want clarification on their promise of giving us 20 per cent of reservation."

In response to another question, Hardik Patel said, "Constitutionally speaking, I can't contest election and I don't need to in the first place... Whosoever wins in Gujarat election, ultimately it is going to be a win for Gujarat."

THE CONGRESS' OFFER

Earlier, the Congress invited Hardik Patel, Chhotu Vasava, Alpesh Thakor and Jignesh Mevani to join it in the fight against the BJP in the Gujarat Assembly polls. Gujarat Congress president Bharatsinh Solanki made the announcement at a press meet earlier in the day about the party's invitation to these caste-based leaders.

Solanki said, "All options are open. Those who come with Congress can contest on their own, with Congress supporting their candidature, or they can also contest under Congress symbol."

(With inputs from Gopi Maniar in Ahmedabad)