Congress ropes in Hardik Patel for Rajasthan campaign

The Congress Seva Dal in Pratapgarh is buzzing with excitement. Hardik Patel, the Patidar leader from Gujarat, has tentatively agreed to attend their large-scale Kisan Sabha and booth sammelan tentatively scheduled to be held next month. But Hardik has larger plans regarding Rajasthan. He plans to extensively tour over a dozen districts of Rajasthan in the coming months. This is sure to give the ruling BJP a cause of concern it would once again create a Hardik Congress combine; the same that caused ample concern for the BJP in Gujarat too.

Speaking to DNA, Hardik confirmed that he is in the process of palnning tours to Rajasthan. "I will extensively tour the state. My team is in the process of planning it. The first meeting would be in Ajmer. I would go to Jhalawar, Dausa Karauli in the first leg," informed Hardik.       

"I will be raising issues of farmers. This includes Gurjars, Jats and Meena and others too. Attending the Pratapgarh meeting would be subject to dates," the Patidar leader told DNA.

As per informed sources in the Gurjar and Patidar communities of Rajasthan, the districts that Hardik Patel would tour are those that have sizeable Patidar and Gurjar population. These tours and rallies would be in close association with the Congress.

The districts that have been finalised are Dungarpur, Banswara, Udaipur, Rajsamand, Pratapgarh, Chittorgarh, Kota, Baran for the Patidar populance and Ajmer, Bhilwara, Sawai Madhopur, Tonk, Karauli, Dhailpur, Bharatpur, Jhalawar, Dausa, Nagaur and capital Jaipur.

Himmat Singh, senior Gurjar leader confirmed to DNA "We now need to be a part of the government to push our issue of reservation further towards logical conclusion in not just Rajasthan but also other states. Gurjars and Patidars are deciding population in 45 assembly seats."

"Apart from Rajasthan Gujarat Rajasthan Maharastra, MP and Chhattisgarh are the states where we will make efforts to damage BJP. Our plan to thwart their 2019 plans."

Even as the Congress, Hardik, Gurjar combine is enough to make ruling BJP feel concerned, but the only thing that gives them relief is that Hardik would not be campaigning during the soon to be held bypolls in the state. This is due to restraining order from the Gujarat high Court that would end after another roughly eight weeks.

CONG GAMEPLAN

The districts that Hardik Patel would be touring in Rajasthan are those that have sizeable Patidar and Gurjar population. These tours and rallies would be in close association with the Congress.