Harin Pathak's absence will help me, says Congress candidate

BJP's decision to drop sitting MP Harin Pathak and field Bollywood actor Paresh Rawal from Ahmedabad East Lok Sabha constituency has boosted Congress candidate Himmatsinh Patel's confidence and he believes that his chances of winning the election has improved.
"Harin Pathak's absence will certainly work in favor of me. People need a local leader to solve their problems. Since Pathak is not contesting, I will be their first choice," Patel said during his interaction with reporters here today.
Patel strongly believes that the fight will be based on the issue of local versus outsider candidate, since Rawal has been labelled by many as an outsider.

"The biggest issue is that I am a local and he is an outsider. He might be a celebrity, but I consider myself a bigger celebrity. I was the mayor of this city and have been living with my people for 365 days," Patel, who is set to file his nomination papers on April 4, said.
Patel also claimed that Rawal will not be accepted by people in Ahmedabad East just because he is a BJP candidate.
"Times have changed, since people don't always go by the party. They now see credentials of candidates. Being a local and a full time social worker, I am confident that people will choose me," the former mayor said.

To convey his merits of being a "local", Patel has already started campaigning in his constituency.
"Since a couple of days, I have been meeting local leaders, party workers, councillors and Congress MLAs," Patel said.