Hardik Patel, the firebrand leader, who mobilised thousands of people in his rallies has emerged as a saviour for the Congress party president Rahul Gandhi, or at least managed to save face rather than get humiliated totally. Proof? In the home district of Hardik, there is a close fight between the Congress and the BJP nominee. Viramgam, the place where Hardik belongs, is witnessing a neck and neck battle between BJP’s Tejshriben Dilipkumar Patel and Congress’ Bharwad Lakhabhai Bhikhabhai. Though the BJP candidate is leading with 44793 votes the Congress candidate is also not far behind as Bhikhabhai got 41681 votes and the counting is still on. In other fiefdoms of the Patidar like Botad, Kamrej, Varachha Road, Nikol and Mahesana a tough battle is being fought by both the parties.
Take a look at the latest trends of Patidar hot belt constituencies :
Botad Constituency– Counting in progress
Saurabh Patel (DALAL), Bharatiya Janata Party– 63184 votes
Kalathiya Dhirajlal Madhavijibhai , Indian National Congress– 59001 votes
Kamrej Constituency- Counting in progress
VD Zalavadiya, Bharatiya Janata Party- 140887 votes.
Ashok, Indian National Congress- 116853 votes.
Varachha Road constituency- Counting in progress
Kishor Kanani, Bharatiya Janata Party- 68472 votes.
Gajera Dhuirubhai Haribhai, Indian National Congress – 54474 votes
Nikol constituency- Counting in progress
Jagadish Panchal, Bharatiya Janata Party- 87341 votes.
Gohil Indravijaysinh, Indian National Congress- 62440 votes.
Mehsana constituency- Counting in progress
Patel Nitinbhai Ratilal, Bharatiya Janata Party- 64087 votes
Patel Jivabhai ambalal, Indian National Congress- 51206 votes
As Narendra Modi left Gujarat for Delhi in 2014, within a period of three months Patidar agitation rocked the state and the 22-year-old Hardik Patel emerged as the strong leader creating many hurdles for the ruling BJP. The ruling party has apparently tried to contain him. Hardik was arrested and charged with sedition. Many of his loyalists had also joined the BJP just before the elections giving a blow to Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti. Yet he fought hard and conducted a number of roadshows, rallies in cities and rural areas. Sending out a loud and clear message, Hardik said, “we have to teach the BJP a lesson.”
Though the trends indicate that BJP is heading towards victory but Hardik has been a saviour for the Rahul Gandhi led Congress. Patidar leader Hardik Patel had made a big claim on Saturday morning, saying that the Bharatiya Janata Party will tamper with the EVMs on Saturday and Sunday night. The stunning part of these claims was that Hardik Patel said that BJP will deliberately lose the election in Himachal Pradesh. He said that if the party loses in Gujarat, it will mark its downfall. Hardik, in a series of tweets, said that BJP will win the Gujarat elections with the help of EVM tampering but will lose in Himachal Pradesh so that no fingers are pointed at it.
