Ahmedabad, DeshGujarat: There’s a race going on now in Gujarat to get support of Patel quota agitators. Delhi based Aam Aadmi Party(AAP) was already trying to lure Patel quota agitators to get some political space in Gujarat. Today Sharad Pawar led Nationalist Congress Party(NCP) leader Praful Patel flew to Ahmedabad and met small-time Patidar quota agitators Dinesh Bambhania and Varun Patel and got clicked with them in photo for media circulation. Praful extended his support to jailed Patidar quota agitator Hardik Patel. Praful is third political leader to do this. In last fortnight Arvind Kejriwal released a video extending his support to Hardik Patel. The video was showcased in a press conference of AAP in Gujarat. In another development, leader of opposition in Gujarat Shankersinh Vaghela wrote a letter to Hardik Patel extending his support to Hardik and wished for Hardik’s release from jail. Today Praful Patel did same during his interaction with Patidar agitation representatives and media. More to this – it is learnt that AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal is going to visit Surat on 10 July. This move has been confirmed by AAP’s Gujarat face Kanubhai Kalsaria who had held a public meeting in Patel community dominated Varachha locality of Surat recently protesting electricity charges of Torrent Power company. Conventionally BJP supporting Patel community dominated Varachha area had elected Congress Councillors in local body polls last year.

While race to lure Patidar quota stir supporters in order to get political space in Gujarat is going on between Congress, AAP and NCP, the question is how much support actually the agitation is enjoying? The agitation saw its peak in August last year but it is on decline continuously then-after. Barring few people in few pockets, average Patidar or say Patel seems no more interested in either quota issue or in agitation these days. It’s very easy to get few thousands Patels for public meeting in ghetto pockets like Varachha based on hype but in the past such gatherings successfully organized by Keshubhai Patel had achieved little or no success electorally. Then too many political players will trigger split in whatever small number of Patidar agitation votes are there on the ground. Till the time detail results of year 2017 assembly elections are out including the details of those candidates who lost deposits, the Patel factor will continue to make elections interesting. Don’t forget, in the past, year 2007 and 2012 assembly polls in Gujarat were interesting only due to Patel factor.

– DeshGujarat