Hardik Patel, the Patidar leader, on Wednesday resigned from the Congress. Hardik had been working president of the Gujarat Congress unit.
Hardik tweeted his resignation letter addressed to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi. Hardik wrote the Congress “has constantly been working against the interests of my country and our society”.
Hardik's resignation letter is likely to strengthen speculation he could switch to the BJP. Hardik wrote the Congress had been “merely reduced to opposing everything”, instead of giving people an alternative. He cited the Ram Mandir, revocation of Article 370 and implementation of GST as examples of issues on which the Congress had played the role of a roadblock.
“When it came to issues related to India, Gujarat and my Patidar community, Congress' only stand was to oppose whatever Govt of Inda led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji did,” Hardik wrote.
He alleged the Congress leadership was not serious and “not really interested” in hearing about problems of people in Gujarat, “but were more engrossed on what messages they had received on their mobile...”.
He appeared to target Rahul Gandhi when he wrote “Whenever our country faced challenges and when the Congress needed leadership, Congress leaders were enjoying abroad.” He also wrote “Gujaratis can never forget how the Congress party has insulted Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel”. He claimed he did not know “hearts and minds of leadership of Congress are filled with such hatred towards our country India, towards my community and especially towards the youth”.
Patel had skipped the party’s three-day Chintan Shivir in Rajasthan. Days before the meet when Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was in Dahod for a public rally, he mentioned independent MLA from Vadgam Jignesh Mevani’s name, but not Patel’s.
In New Delhi, party spokesperson and Rajya Sabha MP from Gujarat, Shaktisinh Gohil, claimed that the words used in Patel’s resignation letter were that of the BJP and there is no grain of truth in the allegations. Gohil went on to say that India can never be “Congress Mukt” but it is true that BJP has become “Congress Yukt”.
Gujarat unit president of Aam Aadmi Party Gopal Italia used the opportunity to comment on the Congress and said today’s incident is indicative of the fact that the forthcoming elections will be a fight between the BJP and the AAP as the Congress is not in a position to fight against the saffron party.
He requested that good and honest leaders of the Congress should join the AAP to work for the development of the state.
A few days ago, Patel had met Naresh Patel, head of the Khodaldham Trust in Saurashtra. The Congress is hoping that Naresh will join its fold. Naresh, however, has not yet decided which party is joining. He has a good hold among the Patidars, especially in Saurashtra region.
—With inputs from Nandini Oza
