Patels now set eyes on Gujarat civic polls

Within weeks of their imposing show of strength in the Gujarat capital where they agitated for reservation for Patidars, officials of the Patel lobby are now saying they are open to the idea of contesting civic body elections scheduled in October.

As a matter of fact, the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti and Sardar Patel Group have both begun mobilizing support for their maiden poll venture, with their top officials deciding to contest elections as independents in Ahmedabad and Surat. They also plan to extend support to parties floated by Patels in Nadiad and Anand. These parties will contest civic polls in other parts of Gujarat, sources said.

A Patidar official said, “We might not win the elections, but the plan is to damage the BJP’s prospects. We never wanted matters to come to a head but police atrocities during our Ahmedabad rally have pushed us away from the BJP.” Scores were injured and nine protesters killed in clashes across the state between the Patel agitators and the police last month.

Sources said that in Ahmedabad, of the 48 civic wards, Patels’ are a formidable presence in at least 12. There are 38 Congress corporators and two independents in the 192-member Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation. In Surat, too, Patels hope to “teach the saffron brigade a lesson”.

On Sunday, two Patel leaders from Nadiad and Anand announced their plans to contest civic polls under Bharatiya Rashtriyawadi Party. PC Patel of Nadiad said, “We met on Sunday. Several SPG and PAAS leaders have extended support to the Bharatiya Rastriyawadi Party, which was registered in 2003 and has contested elections in the past.”

Dinesh Patel of Anand said he had formed Navin Bharat Nirman Manch in 2012 and now that the Patels are being targeted by the state police, they will fight for their cause. “I have decided to contest civic elections with support of SPG and PAAS,” said Dinesh.