Lok Sabha polls: Hardik Patel likely to join Congress on March 12; to contest from Gujarat's Jamnagar seat

Hardik Patel, who led the agitation demanding reservation for the Patidar community in Gujarat is likely to join the Congress on March 12 in the presence of party chief Rahul Gandhi during his visit to the state. 

Top party sources said on March 6 that Hardik Patel is likely to contest the Lok Sabha election from Jamnagar constituency in Gujarat. It has been told to Republic TV that Hardik is likely to contest the Gujarat bypolls from Jamnagar seat, and not the Lok Sabha elections. 

Currently, the Jamnagar Lok Sabha seat is represented by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Poonamben Maadam.

While Patel didn't contest the 2017 Gujarat elections himself, he had backed the Congress in its campaign along with fellow young leaders Jignesh Mevani and Alpesh Thakor. The Congress is focussing on Gujarat, the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and had give a tough fight to the ruling BJP in the last assembly polls in the state. 

READ: BIG ANNOUNCEMENT: Hardik Patel To Contest 2019 Lok Sabha Election, Talks On With Congress For Mevani-like Deal For Gujarat's Amreli Seat, As Per Sources

Earlier in February, Patidar leader Hardik Patel has confirmed that he will be contesting the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. He had made the announcement following a question by reporters during a public rally. In his statement, he had given a hint as to which side of the political divide he would be joining, while speaking about how Mamata Banerjee sparked the battle to save the Constitution, to remove the BJP from West Bengal.

Convenor of the PAAS (Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti), Hardik Patel rose to prominence almost overnight in the year 2015 as he started his party which was at that time demanding reservation in government jobs and education for members of the Patidar community.

In the months of June-August 2015, he held a number of demonstrations and gatherings to emphasise his demand, launching him into the public conscience while he was barely in his twenties. 

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