BJP may hardly reach half-way mark in Gujarat: Hardik

Patidar leader Hardik Patel on Wednesday said the ruling BJP in Gujarat will win only around 80 seats in the forthcoming assembly elections.

"The youth, women, Dalits, tribals, Patels and farmers are up against the BJP this time," he told the media.

He said the Bharatiya Janata Party would find it difficult to achieve their target of winning 150 of the 182 seats in the assembly.

State elections are scheduled by the end of this year.

At present, the BJP has 123 seats in the Assembly, with the Congress having 57 representatives.

The 23-year-old leader, at the same time, said this would not mean the Congress would win by default since there are only two major political parties in the state.

"They should not think that the 'laddoo' (sweet) will fall in their mouth because of the Patel agitation," Hardik Patel said.

"If they too do not make their stand clear and get their act together, the people may be forced to look somewhere else for a completely new alternative," he added.

Hardik Patel's statement comes soon after a meeting between a delegation of PAAS and Gujarat Congress chief Bharatsinh Solanki last week.

He reiterated his demand that the state Government should set up a Patidar Commission to look into the quota demands of Patels in government jobs and educational institutions.

"If they are serious, why is there a delay? They do not want to give anything to Patels but are misleading the community."

Hardik Patel was replying to Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel's statement that the government was ready to hold talks with Patidars.

"But, why should we meet you? To have your tea? We are not going to meet you till you make your stand clear on various demands that we put before you four months ago, including reservations for Patidar community."

Hardik Patel said the statements from government functionaries were primarily to preempt any protests during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's two-day state visit beginning May 22.

"Fifty-one youths, including me, will take a march with tonsured heads in protest on May 21. We have keep 51 target but any number of Patidar youths can join us in this protest."

His organization Patidaar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) has plans to hold two major programmes in Botad and Bhavnagar.

--IANS

desai/mr