Seat sharing: Congress goes into huddle as PAAS resorts to arm-twisting

Patidar reservation leader Hardik Patel and the Congress were seen locking horns after the seats announcement for the first phase of Gujarat elections, to be held next month.

The Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) leader has evaded the media since Sunday, when the Gujarat unit of the Congress announced its candidates for Saurashtra and south Gujarat.

The polling for the first phase will take place on December 9.

After the late-night drama over ticket allocation at the Congress headquarters in Ahmedabad, the party, on late Monday, partially succumbed to the pressures of PAAS leaders and replaced four of its announced candidates with those “accepted” by Patidar leaders.

But a reportedly displeased Hardik repeatedly deferred announcement about extending support to the Congress.

In the first phase of 89 seats, the Congress has given ticket to more than 30 Patidar candidates. But the late night drama and arm-twisting by Hardik forced the Congress to replace its candidates on four seats, ie Junagadh, Bharuch, Kamrej and Varachha Road.

However, PAAS leaders demanded “their choice of candidates” on Botad and Kodinar constituencies as well.

The Congress had already nominated Manhar Patel, a rebel Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) member who defected to the party, as its candidate for Botad to take on former Industries Minister Saurabh Patel.

PAAS members wanted their convenor Dilip Sabwa to be given the mandate from Botad and threatened to support a third front if their demands were not met.

For Kodinar (SC) seat, the party had announced Mohanbhai Vala, a Dalit face.

Tuesday being the last day for filing nominations for the phase-1, Congress went into huddle to address the demands of the Patidars.

As the discussions went on, Hardik postponed his announcement on supporting Congress till Wednesday.

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