Gujarat elections 2017: Will Patidar power pack a punch in Gujarat polls?

Of the 93 seats that are going to polls in the second phase of polling for Gujarat Assembly on Thursday, there are close to 24 seats where Patel votes can play a decisive role. The Patidar agitation that began in 2015 has altered the political loyalties in the most vocal community of the state. Patels who always supported BJP now have their loyalties divided.

There was a time when BJP also meant ‘Bharatiya Janata Pateloni’ (Patels’ party). Now, see the response Patidar leader Hardik Patel is getting for his rallies whether be Surat, Saurashtra or Ahmedabad.

Ashok Kevadia, a resident of Bapunagar in Ahmedabad, said, “There is no unity. Everyone is judging the situation as per their circumstances. The young and the middle class are pissed of. Agriculture has become costly. On the other hand, there is no government support.”

However, Kiran Patel, a resident of Patel-dominated Ghatlodia said that a significant section of the society is still with the BJP. “Ïnitially they supported Hardik as they wanted reservation. However, they think that Hardik’s deal with Congress cannot be put into practice,” he said.

The support of Patels to BJP can be guaged from the fact that all the seats of Patel-dominated wards of …read more