Community will form a separate platform to unite all members against the party.
The rift between the Koli Patel community and Congress is widening with every passing day. So much so, that the leaders of the community have now decided to form a separate platform to unite all community members, and provide them with political strength. The move came following the community's decision to refrain from voting or supporting Congress.
The decision was taken in a meeting held between community leaders a few days back at a private farm house in Dumas. During the meet, leaders discussed the future plans, and resolved to stay firm on their decision to lend no support to Congress. The participating members unanimously decided to form a separate platform, both political and social, to voice their grievances against Congress.
The conflict is likely to cost Congress a loss of 4 lakh votes which the Koli Patel community lays claim to in Surat and Navsari. Although, there is no clarity on the workings of the platform, sources say it will probably be a social organisation having political contacts, aiming to unite community people.
The Koli-Congress relation turned sour after Dhansukh Rajput was made to file nomination for the Navsari LS seat instead of Bhavna Patel, a Koli community member. Bhavna was kept in the dark by the party leaders, and was forced to withdraw her nomination at the last moment.
"It was disappointing to see Bhavna Patel being cheated this way by the Congress leaders. We will unite under one roof to give vent to our anger. If we don't take this step now, our community will be taken for granted," said Chandrawadan Pithawala, a prominent Koli leader.
Earlier, in a statement, Chhotu Pathawala, president of state Koli Patel community, had refused to lend its support to Congress and its candidate Dhansukh Rajput in the Lok Sabha elections. To control the damage caused by the statement, Congress had Bhavna Patel and Dhansukh Rajput sit on the stage together; it also asked Bhavna to pledge her support for the party's campaign. But the exercise did little to calm the anger of the Koli leaders or cement the gap between the two groups.
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