Hindustantimes wants to start sending you push notifications. Click allow to subscribe

Gujarat Congress leader Hardik Patel denies reports on joining AAP, blames BJP of planting fake news

By | Written by Srivatsan K C, Hindustan Times, New Delhi
Jun 14, 2021 11:27 PM IST

“Shocked to hear the news of me joining the Aam Aadmi Party and becoming their face in the coming assembly elections in various media platforms. These reports are baseless and fake and have been planted by BJP," Patel tweeted.

Gujarat Congress’ working president Hardik Patel on Monday denied reports that he would join the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) ahead of the state assembly elections in 2022, news agency PTI reported. Patel also blamed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the circulation of such “fake reports,” which he discarded as “baseless.”

Congress leader Hardik Patelexpressed confidence that the people of the state would elect the Congress with full majority in the upcoming election.(PTI File Photo)

“I am surprised at the reports coming in from various media quarters that I am going to join the AAP and become their face for the next year's Assembly election in Gujarat. Such claims are baseless. Such fake reports are being planted in the media with a malicious intent at the behest of the BJP,” PTI quoted Patel as saying.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

In a series of tweets, Patel also alleged that the BJP is planting fake news in the media to hide its failures during the Covid-19 pandemic times. “Shocked to hear the news of me joining the Aam Aadmi Party and becoming their face in the coming assembly elections in various media platforms. These reports are baseless and fake and have been planted by BJP with the aim of spreading confusion among Congress workers and various societies,” he said in a subsequent tweet in Hindi.

While saying that the Indian National Congress party came close to forming the government in Gujarat in the previous assembly elections, he tweeted “Anyone who wants to strengthen the fight against the BJP's misrule is welcome in Gujarat.” He further expressed confidence that the people of the state would elect the Congress with full majority in the upcoming election. He also said that the people have observed the party’s rule in neighbouring Maharashtra and Rajasthan during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Also read | AAP to contest all seats in 2022 Gujarat assembly elections: Arvind Kejriwal

Patel said that he is the youngest working president of the Gujarat Congress and he joined the party “with the sole aim of removing the anti-farmer, anti-worker and anti-Patidar BJP government,” PTI reported.

Earlier in the day AAP’s national convenor and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal during his visit to Ahmedabad, said that the party would contest all 182 seats in the 2022 assembly election. He was in Ahmedabad to inaugurate the AAP office in the city.

However, Gujarat BJP spokesperson Yamal Vyas rejected Patel’s allegations against the party. “The BJP fights elections on the agenda of development and that is why people elect us. Hardik Patel is having his own agenda and we are not concerned about it. His allegations are far from the truth,” PTI quoted Vyas as saying, earlier on Monday.

Unveiling Elections 2024: The Big Picture', a fresh segment in HT's talk show 'The Interview with Kumkum Chadha', where leaders across the political spectrum discuss the upcoming general elections. Watch now!

Get Current Updates on India News, Election 2024, Arvind Kejriwal News Live, Bihar Board 10th Result 2024 Live along with Latest News and Top Headlines from India and around the world.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
OPEN APP