Ahmedabad: Hardik Patel, the young Patidar leader who became a millstone around the neck of BJP governments in Gujarat, on Tuesday formally joined the Congress in the presence of the entire top leadership at a public rally. Congress president Rahul Gandhi exuded confidence that not only would Hardik contest the elections but he would also win. ‘‘Woh zaroor jitenge,” he told media persons at the airport.
Earlier, at the rally, Rahul formally welcome Hardik into the Congress fold by putting a formal party scarf around his neck. With Hardik’s entry, two of the three youth leaders who spearheaded the battle against the BJP in the last Vidhan Sabha elections, are now in the Congress. Jignesh Mevani, the Dalit leader, though technically an Independent, also has leanings towards the Congress.
However, Alpesh Thakore, sitting on the fence for the last few months, has been making overtures to the BJP. Speculation was rife that he was joining the BJP and jockeying for a berth in the Vijay Rupani cabinet. However, with OBC leaders within the Gujarat BJP up in arms, the ruling party is reported to have given up the idea of inducting him, leaving him with no option but to stay put, at least for the moment. Attempts at riding two horses simultaneously can be foolhardy, at times!