Hardik Patel questions delay in election announcement 'if BJP is confident of winning'

Patidar leader Hardik Patel on Tuesday lashed out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), stating that the delay in announcement for the dates of the Gujarat polls was unwarranted, if the ruling party was so confident of winning around 150 seats.

While speaking to ANI, Patel said, "If the BJP is so confident of winning around 150 seats, then why is there the delay in election announcement? Also, if election results are being predicted then why is the date not being finalised?"

Patel downplayed the hype surrounding his impending meeting with Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi.

"I meeting Rahul Gandhi is not a big thing, I don't understand the hype that the parties are creating. What I think is whoever stands against the BJP, I will support them," he said.

Another Patidar leader Dinesh Patel had, yesterday, said that Rahul Gandhi would meet with Hardik Patel in November, as the two did not meet then.

"Hardik Patel did not meet Rahul Gandhi today. He will meet when Rahul Gandhi visits again, that is from November 1-3," Dinesh told ANI.

Eyeing Patidar votes, the Congress is trying to get support from their leaders to counter the BJP in Gujarat, where they had been in power since 1995.

Meanwhile, Nikhil Sawani, who recently resigned from the BJP, met Rahul and discussed ways to provide justice to the Patidar community and support for their agitation in Gujarat.