Anand Patel | Edited by Prabhash K Dutta
New Delhi, November 16, 2017 | UPDATED 12:48 IST
Though he came to Delhi ahead of central election committee meeting of the Congress, Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani has denied having negotiations with the party for fielding candidates in Gujarat election.
Dalit activist Jignesh Mevani has categorically denied having any negotiation with the Congress for fielding candidates in the Gujarat Assembly election. Speaking exclusively to India Today, Jignesh Mevani said he would prefer fielding his own candidates in the Gujarat election.
"We are not in talks with the Congress party to field our leaders on their symbol. There is no such negotiation going on," said Jignesh Mevani, Dalit activist from Gujarat in an Exclusive conversation with India Today TV.
Jignesh Mevani was in Delhi a day ahead of Congress party's central election committee meeting to short list candidates for the Gujarat polls. Jignesh is one of the three young fire-brand leaders, who have rocked the political atmosphere of the poll-bound state.
"We would rather field our candidates on our own instead of using Congress party symbol," Jignesh Mevani said responding to a question where he and Hardik Patel were bargaining for 25 seats with the Congress for Gujarat election.
He said, "We want to overthrow the 22 years of BJP rule. But we are not endorsing Congress either" adding, People of Gujarat are smart enough to choose whom to cast their vote to. We don't have to tell them."
Jignesh Mevani said, "Promises made by 
Rahul Gandhi during his election campaign are close to our expectations but at the same time it's all about delivering those promises."
Jignesh and his team are planning to hold mega rallies between November 26 and December 6 in the 13 reserved constituencies of Gujarat. "The BJP and RSS must be defeated in 2019. So, it is important to defeat them in Gujarat Assembly polls," said, Jignesh, who exuded confidence that would be restricted to 80 seats in the state election this time.
"Sex CD of Hardik is ample proof of BJP's desperation. It shows BJP is not interested in debate over development agenda," said Jignesh Mevani. The Ram versus Haj campaign shows that they are interested in divisive politics instead, he added.
"Hardik and I have challenged PM Modi, BJP president Amit Shah and Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani for a debate on development. We are awaiting their response," Jignesh Mevani said.
