Politicians eye Leuva Patels' meet for votes

Leuva Patels appear to be making an effort to consolidate as a pressure group but to what purpose, no one really knows.

Observers of the political scene, however, read their move towards greater consolidation as an expression of the community’s ‘sense of neglect’ under the Narendra Modi government.

The ostensible purpose of the meeting held at Nikol in Ahmedabad on Sunday (December 25) was to mobilise Leuva Patels for the foundation laying ceremony of Shree Khodaldham Mandir complex in Kagwad village of Rajkot district on January 21, 2012.

The organisers of the meeting had said that around 20 lakh people are expected to attend the foundation laying ceremony for the temple being built in honour of Goddess Khodiyar. Incidentally, the Leuva Patels are smaller in number than Kadwa Patels, the other sub-caste of the powerful Patidar community.

The Leuva Patels are believed to be unhappy about having less representation in the state government than Kadva Patels. Some political leaders are believed to be trying to tap the community’s ‘unhappiness’ with the Modi regime to improve their prospects in the assembly elections scheduled next year. If sources are to be believed, some disgruntled BJP leaders are also among those trying to turn the upcoming ‘socio-religious’ event into an anti-Modi show of strength.

As a large number of Leuva Patels are expected to attend the January 21 event, political leaders cannot be blamed for trying to tap the event for easy electoral pickings.