Gujarat Koli Sena leader and Rajula MLA Hirabhai Solanki met Chief Minister Anandiben Patel at her office in Gandhinagar on Tuesday afternoon to discuss issues concerning the community and the reported unrest among its leaders over representation in the state Cabinet. About 20 prominent Koli community leaders also accompanied Solanki in the meeting that went on for half an hour. “The meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere. The CM told us to wait for some more time in view of BJP Sangathan Parva (membership drive),” Solanki told The Indian Express after the meeting. He said that he and his associates were satisfied with the government response. “Shanti rakho (have patience) was what the CM advised our leaders about a way out to resolve our grievances and promised to do the needful after the completion of the ongoing Sangathan Parva in the state,” he said. The leaders who were present at the meeting with the CM included Leelabhai Dhaki, Babu Talsaniya, Haribhai Chaudhry, Rajabhai Chavda, Ramesh Makwana, Bhagwanbhai Dabhi, Rajdeep Jambucha, among others. Solanki has been vocal since the Cabinet expansion by the CM on November 18 stating that the Koli community was not given due representation in the government despite its sizeable presence and political influence in the state. However, his elder brother, Parshottam Solanki, did not agree with him in public, nor did he complain about being given a junior rank in the Cabinet. But younger brother Hirabhai continued with his rebellious views and went ahead with plan to hold a community convention at Bagodara on November 23 against the wishes of elder brother.
