The Anandiben Patel-led Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Gujarat is gearing up for its toughest-ever political test, after the state’s first woman Chief Minister assumed charge in May 2014, when members of her own Patidar community descend on the Ahmedabad roads in their lakhs demanding reservation in government jobs and educational institutions on par with the OBCs.
The socially-politically-economically powerful Patidars, or Patels, have been agitating for over a month and held big rallies across Gujarat in support of their demand of their inclusion in the list of OBCs.
As a reaction, the SC-ST-OBC combine, who fear the move might adversely impact their interests, also held a major gathering in the city on Monday.
The Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) and Sardar Patel Group (SPG), the two groups spearheading the reservation demand led by the 21-year old Hardik Patel and other young leaders, have called for a mega gathering and rally called "Maha Kranti" in Ahmedabad on Tuesday, putting the BJP government in a piquant situation as the Patels are seen as the strongest supporters of the ruling party.
Rally
About three lakh Patels are expected to gather at the grounds of Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation (GMDC) in the western part of Ahmedabad. Besides, lakhs others are expected to join the rally on the city roads, thereby posing a major law and order challenge for the largest city of the state.
About 18,000 police personnel have been deployed across Ahmedabad and additional forces have been put on alert to tackle any emergency situation.
Several efforts by the state government, including discussions with agitating groups, advertisements and public appeals by senior ministers led by the Chief Minister, failed to convince the Patidar community from demanding reservation. Notably, the caste population projections based on the 1931 caste census shows the Patidars formed 12-15 per cent of the state's population. The OBC population is about 22 per cent in Gujarat.
According to Joint Commissioner of Police (JCP), Special Branch, Vikas Sahay, over 3 lakh people from different parts of the state are expected to participate in the gathering of Patidars.