Congress Patidar MLAs meet Rajiv Satav in Delhi

GANDHINAGAR: Ahead of Congress president Rahul Gandhi’s scheduled poll rallies in North Gujarat from February 15 to 20, some Patidar MLAs met the party incharge for the state, Rajiv Satav, in Delhi on Monday. The meeting assumes significance as recently one of the MLAs, Asha Patel, quit the party to join the BJP.
According to sources, the Patidar MLAs registered their grievances against the state party chief Amit Chavda.
Asha Patel too had resigned citing leadership issues in Gujarat. Patel was a known face of Patidar reservation agitation and a close aide of the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) leader Hardik Patel. Other known Hardik supporter MLAs in the Congress — Kirit Patel, Lalit Vasoya and Lalit Kagathara — met Satav on Monday and briefed him on the situation in the state.
When contacted, Vasoya said, “It was only a courtesy call. We were in Delhi so we thought we should meet Rajiv Satav.”
Chavda, Dhanani in Delhi: State Congress president Amit Chavda and leader of opposition Paresh Dhanani were summoned to Delhi by party high command on Monday, reportedly after rumours of more MLAs leaving the Congress party gained momentum. Chavda and Dhanani met state party incharge Rajiv Satav and discussed the issues raised by some MLAs, said sources privy to the development.
Dhanani’s appeal: Leader of opposition Paresh Dhanani and senior Patidar leaders have reportedly been asked by the Congress party to stop Patidar MLAs from joining the BJP. On Monday, Dhanani appealed Asha Patel, who recently left the party, to reconsider her decision.