Table of Contents
The News
- Members of two sects of Patidar community, Leuva and Kadva, met at Umiya Dham in Mehsana district in North Gujarat.
- The meeting is highly significant, especially coming ahead of the important local body elections in February 2021 and Gujarat assembly elections in 2022.
Patidars
Why the meeting?
The meeting was the first-ever attempt by the two trusts to come together to discuss political, social, and educational progress of the Patidar community.
- Who met and who missed?
- The meeting was presided over by Naresh Patel and Manibhai Patel.
- It was also attended by around 150 leading Patidar community members
- Trustees of Khodaldham Trust, Shree Umiya Mataji Sansthan,
- Patidar MLAs
- Patidar youth leaders like Gopal Italia, Alpesh Kathiriya, Dharmik Malaviya and Lalji Patel.
- Hardik Patel, chief leader of the Patidar reservation agitation, was not present in the meeting owing to a bail condition that prohibits him from entering Mehsana district.
What happened?
- After the meeting, Naresh Patel said
- “The Patidar community has a presence in every field except in politics and government jobs. He highlighted that the meeting was held to discuss how to fill that gap.”
- Khodaldham Trust is also planning a temple in North Gujarat which was also an agenda in the meeting.
Patidar voting!!
Is it warning – BJP?
- The Patidar sect meeting has taken place just weeks ahead of local body elections and nearly a year ahead of the Gujarat assembly elections.
- The last time the Patidar community got together for seeking OBC status in 2015, it had triggered a political storm.
- The discontentment in the Patidar community played out in the local body elections of 2015, where the BJP lost much ground.
- It played out even in 2017 assembly elections where BJP failed to cross 100 seats.
Is it warning – BJP?
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