Cong, Patidar Samiti seal Patel quota deal

Manas Dasgupta

Ahmedabad, November 19

After prolonged negotiations, the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) today reached an agreement with the Congress on the party’s formula to ensure reservation to the Patels, if voted to power in the Gujarat Assembly elections next month.

Dinesh Bhambhaniya, PAAS spokesman, said their convener Hardik Patel would spell out the deal at a rally in Chief Minister Vijay Rupani’s constituency Rajkot. State Congress chief Bharatsinh Solanki said it had been left to Hardik to announce the details. 

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With at least six Hardik aides joining the BJP and more preparing to cross over, the PAAS had yesterday issued a 24-hour “ultimatum” to the Congress to clarify its stand on the quota issue. The “formula”, which the Congress claims will stand the scrutiny of courts and not affect the benefits to OBCs, SCs and STs, was framed by former Union minister Kapil Sibal. 

Young quota stir leaders were upset with Solanki who had yesterday invited them to Delhi for talks with the high command but failed to arrange a meeting. They were pacified today. 

Sources said the PAAS wanted at least nine seats but the Congress was prepared to give only four. 

Meanwhile, the Congress today released its first list of 77 candidates with senior leaders from the state, Arjun Modhwadia and Shaktisinh Gohil, getting ticket.