Patidar faction vows support to BJP

A Patidar faction that was associated with the reservation stir Tuesday vowed its support to the BJP.

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BJP

Even as Gujarat BJP is facing stiff opposition from Patidar community over their demand for reservation and the alleged police atrocities committed on them after August 25 rally in Ahmedabad, a Patidar faction that was associated with the reservation stir Tuesday vowed its support to the BJP.

Former leader of Gujarat Parivartan Party (GPP) Pravin Patel, who leads the group, addressed the media at his residence Tuesday. After leaving the GPP, Pravin — originally from Unjha of Mehsana district which is cradle of Patidar agitation — had rejoined the BJP and he was also actively involved in the Patidar reservation stir spearheaded by Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) and Sardar Patel Group (SPG).

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Pravin said, “I was associated with the reservation stir, but we wanted justice for Patidar community through legal means. We never wanted to spread class war. The moment I realised that (the stir was progressing in a wrong direction), I parted ways with it. Presently, the (political) atmosphere is very concentrated around Patidars and reservation (stir). So, for the past one month, we have been trying to awake the community to stay with the BJP in the elections. And Patidars who had parted ways with the BJP are now coming back to the party,” he added.

Admitting that the Patidar stir had caused a lot of damage to Gujarat BJP, Pravin added that they were doing whatever was possible to “awaken” the community and to convince them to vote for the BJP in the upcoming local body elections due on November 22 and 29. “We believe that the BJP is the only party which thinks of Patidar community’s interest,” Pravin said. He also claimed that around 1,000 Patidars had joined him.

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