Will do everything to ensure BJP's defeat in Gujarat polls: PAAS

AHMEDABAD: Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti's (PAAS) Surashtra unit convener Lalit Vasoya reiterated on Monday morning that members of the group will do everything to ensure BJP's defeat in the upcoming Gujarat assembly elections.

Vasoya said that the PAAS will support any party other than the BJP to realise its goal.

“We are very clear. We will support any party that will help deal a blow to the BJP’s prospects of winning the upcoming Gujarat elections. There is no other party that we see can fight BJP in Gujarat than the Congress,” said Vasoya ahead of PAAS conveners’ marathon meeting at a farm house in Sargasan on the outskirts of Gandhinagar.

Senior PAAS members gathered at the venue to discuss their future course of action, their stand on the Congress party as well as the reservation formula offered to them by Kapil Sibal.

Sibal had on Friday discussed providing a new quota for Patidars under the Article 31 and 38(2) of the Constitution, which will not alter the existing 49% quota for reserved categories.

Vasoya told reporters that the Patidar community had supported BJP for 22 years right from the panchayat to the Lok Sabha polls, but was hurt when the BJP-led government insulted them during the agitation.

When asked if PAAS convener Hardik Patel will fight elections, Vasoya said, “It is up to the community and the core committee members to decide the future course of action for Hardik or any other leader,” Vasoya said.

The meeting comes ahead of a massive show of strength by Patidars scheduled to be held in Rajkot in the last week of November.

Hardik will also address public meeting in every taluka that has a sizable population of Patidars.

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