Reached agreement with PAAS for Gujarat polls: Congress
Dinesh Bambhaniya
After meeting PAAS leaders in Ahmedabad, Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee President Bharat Singh Solanki said the two parties had reached an agreement after the deadlock in the last meeting
The Congress and the Hardik Patel-led Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) on Sunday seemed to have reached an agreement over the issue of seat sharing and reservations for the Patidar community in Gujarat ahead of the assembly elections in the state.
After meeting PAAS leaders in Ahmedabad, Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) President Bharat Singh Solanki said the two parties had reached an agreement after the deadlock in the last meeting.
"In the last meeting where talks had got stuck, on those matters we have reached an agreement and a consensus," the Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee President said, adding that the PASS leaders had not asked for any ticket.
"PAAS has not asked for any ticket. Neither Alpesh Thakur nor Jignesh Mevani have asked for tickets."
PAAS spokesperson Dinesh Bambhaniya said his party's "first and last concern" was reservation and that Hardik Patel would make an announcement tomorrow.
PAAS is demanding tickets in Patidar dominated areas in Ahmedabad, north Gujarat and Saurashtra.
Media reports had earlier stated that differences between the Congress and PAAS over seat sharing were because the Congress was not ready to yield to the demands of Hardik Patel to part with 30 seats. The party was reportedly convincing the group to settle for a lesser number of seats.
The Congress had earlier assured adequate political representation to the Patidars. However, it changed its mind after the alleged sex CD of Hardik Patel surfaced.
Representatives from the two parties reportedly met on Friday to discuss ticket sharing and the quota issue.
On Friday, PAAS leaders had given a 24-hour deadline to the Congress for a final decision on reservations. The deadline ended at midnight Saturday.
The last date for filing nominations for the first phase of the Gujarat assembly elections is November 21.
The Congress has been trying to win over the Patidar community ahead of the assembly elections in the state.
Last month, two of Hardik Patel's close aides from the Patidar community, Reshma Patel and Varun Patel, joined the BJP.
Hardik Patel poses a challenge to the ruling BJP as he holds a sway over a chunk of Patidars, considered as loyal voters of the party.
The Congress had earlier invited Hardik Patel to contest elections in state's assembly elections. Hardik said that it was not a BJP-Congress election but said " we must unite against BJP".