Parties scramble to woo Hardik ahead of Gujarat polls

AHMEDABAD: The race among political parties to woo jailed Patidar leader Hardik Patel, who had taken the BJP government in Gujarat head on, is picking up pace as

AHMEDABAD: The race among political parties to woo jailed Patidar leader Hardik Patel, who had taken the BJP government in Gujarat head on, is picking up pace as the state prepares to go to polls next year.

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The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) is the latest to extend support to Patidar Aanamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) and its 23-year-old leader Hardik, who proved his leadership skills by mobilising his community members last year against the government demanding OBC status.

Senior NCP leader Praful Patel on Monday met PAAS convener Dinesh Bhambhania and termed sedition charges against Hardik ‘unfair’. The support from the NCP – a Congress ally in Gujarat – came a few days after Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal spoke in favour of Hardik in a video shared on social media.