The Economic Times daily newspaper is available online now.

    Rahul Gandhi’s southern Gujarat 3-day trip begins with Bharuch, Surat

    Synopsis

    Amid speculation over whether Gandhi will meet Hardik Patel and Dalit activist Jignesh Mevani, Cong members said no meetings had been fixed yet.

    ET Bureau
    NEW DELHI: Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi is starting a three-day trip of southern Gujarat from Wednesday, beginning with Bharuch and Surat, which are strategically important given the discontent among Patels with BJP and problems faced by traders owing to demonetisation and implementation of the GST regime.

    The party is likely to firm up a seat-sharing arrangement with the JDU faction led by prominent tribal leader Chhotubhai Vasava during this trip, Congress members said. Gandhi and party general secretary in-charge of Gujarat, Ashok Gehlot, had met Vasava, a six-term MLA, in Delhi last Saturday and the two sides had agreed in principle to join hands ahead of Gujarat polls.

    “Our meeting with Gandhi and Gehlot was positive. If Congress and JDU fight the election together, we will dominate the 50-odd assembly segments which have considerable tribal presence,” Vasava told ET. “For us, JDU and tribals, the issue is how BJP government is taking away the waters from our rivers for big industries, and how our people have lost jobs and income after notebandi and GST.”

    Amid speculation over whether Gandhi will meet Patidar rebel Hardik Patel and Dalit activist Jignesh Mevani, Congress members said no meetings had been fixed yet. However, they said given BJP’s raging hostility towards Patel and Mevani it was “only a matter of time” before the duo and Congress reached understanding.


    (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)
    (Catch all the Business News, Breaking News, Budget 2024 News, Budget 2024 Live Coverage, Events and Latest News Updates on The Economic Times.)

    Download The Economic Times News App to get Daily Market Updates & Live Business News.

    Subscribe to The Economic Times Prime and read the ET ePaper online.

    ...more

    (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)
    (Catch all the Business News, Breaking News, Budget 2024 News, Budget 2024 Live Coverage, Events and Latest News Updates on The Economic Times.)

    Download The Economic Times News App to get Daily Market Updates & Live Business News.

    Subscribe to The Economic Times Prime and read the ET ePaper online.

    ...more
    The Economic Times

    Stories you might be interested in