The 23-year-old Hardik Patel led pro-quota organisation Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS), which is fighting for reservations for Patel community in Gujarat, on Tuesday finalised list of its 11 representatives who would initiate talks with the State Government.

Divulging the information after a brainstorming meeting at Udaipur in Rajasthan, PAAS convener Hardik said that the 11 members have been selected from within the Patidar community. Following the Gujarat High Court order Hardik has shifted his base to Udaipur. PAAS acted to appoint its representatives following the Gujarat Government’s invitation to Patel community and PAAS for talks with a view to resolve the reservation issue of Patidar community.

The talks between the State Government and Patidar leaders will take place at Gujarat’s capital Gandhinagar on Thursday, December 1, 2016. The Patels have been seeking quota to Government jobs and educational institutions on the lines of OBCs. This had even led to violence and deaths of at least a dozen persons. In the past Patels have held talks with previous Anandiben Patel Government without much success. “Our key demands remain reservations for the community, setting up of a Commission for Patels, punishing those policemen who committed atrocities against our community members as well as financial package for next of kin who died in the stir and also those affected by violence,” Hardik said.

On Tuesday Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said that he was hopeful of a solution to the imbroglio. “We are very positive and believe in talks and not confrontation. Whatever questions are there, we will sort them out through talks,” he said.