Big welcome awaits Hardik Patel back home in Gujarat

After spending six months in exile, firebrand Patidar agitation spearhead Hardik Patel is set to return to Gujarat to a hero's welcome on Tuesday.

Patel starts early Tuesday morning from his residence in Rajasthan's Udaipur where he stayed while being away and is expected to reach the Gujarat border at Ratanpur checkpost in a cavalcade of around 1,000 vehicles, said his Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS).

The PAAS has organised a mega welcome at the entry point to the state where his supporters in as many as 2,000 cars will converge, while there will be hundreds of others to greet him with garlands.

According to PAAS spokesperson M.J. Panara, Patel will address a mammoth rally of nearly two lakh Patidars in Himmatnagar in North Gujarat.

Significantly, after his rally he will drive down straight to the residence of former Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel "to seek his blessings". The veteran Bharatiya Janata Party leader was ejected as Chief Minister by (now Prime Minister Narendra Modi) in October 2001 and he is known to be an arch rival of Modi.

Hardik Patel will leave Ahmedabad for Pune on Tuesday to attend a students' parliament in Pune where Vice President Hamid Ansari, Rajasthan State Assembly Speaker Kailash Meghwal, film producer Prakash Jha and NDTV anchor Ravish Kumar would also be present.

--IANS

desai/vd