Buoyed with unprecedented success to assemble people in various rallies as part of pro-reservation stir over the past two months, the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) and the Sardar Patel Group (SPG) are planning to form a national political party.
Both groups — PAAS headed by Hardik Patel and SPG led by lalaji Patel — have already claimed that nationwide communities akin to Patels with various nomenclatures have population of nearly 27 crore. According to them Patidars have presence in 14 Indian States and they all would support them.
If sources have to be believed two three names of the political outfits have already been considered including ‘Patidar Navnirman Sena’ and ‘Patel Navnirman Sena.’ The sources also claimed that they have tremendous support from Gujjars and Jats from Rajasthan, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.
“We are also in contact with similar communities in Bihar, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh,” said a PAAS activist on the condition of anonymity. He claimed that PAAS convener Hardik would spearhead the new political outfit if everything would go in line.
After the patch up between lalaji and Hardik, some of the senior community leaders mooted the idea to float political outfit having national presence. The idea was immediate accepted unanimously by all the 144 district conveners assembled at Gandhinagar on Monday ahead of the meeting with Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel.
In fact PAAS convener had given indication to go national on August 25 during his speech at ‘Maha Kranti Rally’ in Ahemadabad saying that there are 1.80 crore Patidars in Gujarat, but across the country their population is over 27 crore and no government should neglect them. His intension was clear at that time as he choose to speak in Hindi despite Gujarati speaking audience was attending the mega rally at GMDC ground. “It was a successful attempt to convey message to our brethren in other state,” opined a leader in PAAS.
Already agitating Patels have announced fielding their candidates in the upcoming Municipal Corporation, Municipality and Panchayat elections in the State.
Meanwhile, females from Patidar community in the State have come forward and beginning to become active in the pro-reservation stir. Recently they have disturbed the public meetings of several MlAs, MPs and ministers by beating stainless steel utensils with rolling pins, causing a ruckus, an compelling the politicians to leave the venue.
Many community members have also decided to support the movement by withdrawing their deposits from co-operative banks (Controlled by the political leaders). In the coming days Patidars have decided to organize five mega rallies in different parts of the State.