Hardik Patel will be the “face” of Shiv Sena in upcoming Gujarat state election, party supremo Uddhav Thackeray said on Tuesday. The prospect of Patel fighting for Shiv Sena will pit both directly against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is battling anti-incumbency after ruling the western state for more than fifteen years.
Twenty-three year old Patel had shot to limelight after leading a massive Patidar quota agitation in Gujarat in 2015, following which he was arrested and later released on condition that he wouldn’t enter Gujarat for six months starting July 2016.
अच्छें लोगों से मिलकर बातें करना और उस बात को लोगों के बीच में ले जाना अच्छी बात हैं। सच में ” एक था टाइगर ” बाला साहेब को नमन: pic.twitter.com/JaR33YDebM
— Hardik Patel (@HardikPatel_) February 7, 2017
(Source: Twitter/Hardik Patel)
Uddhav ji and I welcome @HardikPatel_ at Matoshri, he came to pay his tribute to @ShivSena Pramukh Shri Balasaheb Thackeray
— Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) February 7, 2017
Hardikbhai and Uddhav ji discussed their respective views on fight against social injustice and the way forward
— Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) February 7, 2017
(Source:Twitter/Aaditya Thackeray)
After returning to Gujarat from legally-imposed political exile last month, Patel has reportedly been in touch with various political parties including Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Janata Dal (United). There have been speculations that he has been looking to merge his reservation-based movement with a political outfit. However, he didn’t make any official announcement until now. After joining forces with Shiv Sena, Patel is likely to face AAP as rival in the Gujarat assembly election, expected to happen towards the year end.
The BJP and Shiv Sena of late haven’t been on good terms of late, in the wake of which the junior ally decided on going alone in the Maharashtra municipal elections.
भाजपा कोई दल नहीं हैं लेकिन दूसरी पार्टीयों से आए भ्रष्ट नेताओ का दलदल हैं।।।
— Hardik Patel (@HardikPatel_) February 6, 2017
(Source: Twitter/Hardik Patel)
