PAAS group challenges Congress in Surat over ticket allocations

Surat: Opposition Congress party, as a part of its strategy to avoid rebellious activities within party, took a decision to not announce the list of candidates for upcoming civic polls in Gujarat. There was lot of confusion as a result of this, on the last day of filing nominations today. In Surat, former Patidar quota agitation (led by Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti – PAAS) leader Dharmik Malaviya’s name was announced as Congress party’s candidate. Dharmik left his place in bullock cart in the presence of media to file nomination. However as soon as it was realized that some other quota agitation leaders had not received party’s mandate, it was decided that none from quota agitation group PAAS would file nomination.

Quota agitation leader Alpesh Kathiriya said,’Due to reservations imposed in wards, as many as five Patels could not get ticket this time. Even previously, Patels were not given sufficient number of tickets and they were lesser by five already. Congress party hasn’t given tickets to Patels in ward number 14 and 16 that are for general candidates. Congress didn’t give ticket to Vijay Pansuriya whom we had recommended. Congress lacked educated Patel women, so we had recommended Vilasben who is wife of advocate Sanjay Dhorajiya who work hard for us. Congress initially agreed but later stopped replying our phone calls. There was no phone talk, no mandate, worst kind of politics was played with us. Congress gave ticket to Dharmik Malaviya, one among us, but it was Congress party’s plan that it would give ticket to Malaviya and not other names recommended by us. So we decided that our people who got mandate would not file nominations. A game was played with us even previously, but this time we don’t want to tolerate. Congress has given tickets to less than ten Patels.’

He further said, ‘let us see how Congress can win here. Let them hold public meeting in Varachha.’

Kathiriya alleged that former PAAS leader Hardik Patel who has been appointed as Working President of Gujarat Congress is ignored and given importance in party.

Kathiriya said, while Dharmik and others in panel in same ward have not filed nomination forms, more than ten Congress candidates who have filed forms already are likely to withdraw their nominations, respecting our feelings.

DeshGujarat