The pro-quota outfit Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) and the Opposition Congress on Sunday reached an agreement over the job quota for the youth of the community in the run-up to the Gujarat Assembly polls.
After a meeting with the Congress leaders, close aide of PAAS leader Hardik Patel and one of the conveners of the pro-quota organisation Dinesh Bambhania said that the PAAS and the Congress agreed on majority of the issues related to reservations. Bambhania said more details about the agreement will be revealed by Hardik Patel to the media on Monday from Rajkot, the hometown of Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani.
The hour-long meeting was attended by State Congress chief Bharatsinh Solanki and senior party leader Siddharth Patel, while the PAAS was represented by its 11 representatives, including Bambhania. Post meeting, Solanki said that both the sides have “reached an agreement” over the issue of reservations. “We have taken forward the discussions from where they had ended last time. The outcome is positive and talks were in amiable environment,” said the Gujarat Congress president.
The Patels who have traditionally backed the BJP, have been agitating under the leadership of Hardik Patel since 2015 seeking quotas in Government jobs and educational institutions. Their agitation, which saw deaths of 14 youngsters and jail-term to many others, has changed the face of polity in the State.
Their agitation is also believed to have acted as catalyst for other communities, including OBCs and Dalits, to unite and launch their protests.
Opposition Congress party is out of power for over two decades in the poll bound State. With OBC leader Alpesh Thakore already in its fold and Patidar and Dalit leader Hardik and Jignesh announcing to work against the BJP, the grand old party is hoping to come back to power. Patels comprise almost 12 per cent to 14 per cent of electorate and yield influence on 60 of 182 Assembly seats in the State. OBCs and Dalits account for almost three-fourths of electorate.
On the issue of candidacy by some PAAS leaders contesting Assembly polls on Congress platform, both the Congress and the PAAS denied having any discussion on that front. While State Congress chief Solanki said the party may “in the interest of the State and its people” field PAAS leaders. However, a PAAS spokesman said the outfit didn’t want tickets for any constituency as their purpose was to get reservation for the community.