Hardik Patel to take PAAS to MP, Raj

Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) tasted success of a sort in the recently concluded Gujarat polls, as their support to Congress had helped bring down BJP's seat tally. PAAS convenor Hardik Patel is now preparing to create waves in states such as Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, West Bengal, Odisha, Rajasthan and Maharashtra.

Patel met West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata on Friday. On February 20, he will attend a rally of the Patel community in Madhya Pradesh. PAAS, which has organised the rally, has invited Anupriya Patel of Apna Dal, former PM and JDS leader from Karnataka HD Deve Gowda, Congress leader from Andhra Pradesh Chiranjeevi and many others to the event.

PAAS convener Dharmik Malaviya said, "We have planned programmes in different states to unite the Patel community, known by the names Kurmis, Gurjars, Marathas and others. We have received their invitation to hold programmes in their states, and they have also expressed their wish for Hardik's presence. Most of those states are BJP-ruled and like in Gujarat, our community is up in arms against their governments. We are going to fight against BJP on the same pattern we did in Gujarat."

"Hardik is continuously travelling to different states and people have been inviting him for rallies. There is a great demand for him in the states that are going to polls this year or the next. We have also been coordinating with community leaders for the rallies and other programmes. Our single-point agenda is to ensure that the farming community gets justice, and we are following the Gujarat pattern in all these states," Malaviya added.

The PAAS is undertaking organisational rejig in Gujarat. By the end of February, they will appoint office-bearers in all the districts. The core committee will also see some changes.