NCP to contest Gujarat poll alone, no alliance with Congress
New Delhi, Nov 20 (IBNS): Giving a blow to the Congress, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Monday said it will go solo in the upcoming Gujarat Assembly election, media reports said.
The announcement will certainly be a setback for the Congress as it was hoping to form an alliance with the NCP to fight the election against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Gujarat.
NCP leader Praful Patel told media they are sure of winning more seats in the Gujarat election by fighting alone than allying with the Congress.
Though the Congress could not manage to get the NCP on board, it has certainly been able to forge an alliance with Hardik Patel-led Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS).
The agitating PAAS on Sunday confirmed that they have reached a deal with Congress, stating the latter has accepted its demand for “quota in jobs and education to the Patidar community”.
PAAS leader Hardik Patel will address the media and elaborate matters on Monday.
"We have reached the agreement; more details on Monday," Hardik said while addressing a rally in Dhrol.
Dinesh Bambhania, convenor of PAAS and a close aide of Hardik, said, "Hardik himself will share the details tomorrow, when he will also address a rally in Chief Minister Vijay Rupani’s constituency in Rajkot,"
Both the Congress and PAAS will contest it out against one common opponent, the incumbent Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Bharat Solanki, the Gujarat Congress president told reporters, "Our meeting with PAAS leaders was positive and they have agreed on their demands.”
According to The Hindu, a few PAAS members are likely to contest the elections via Congress tickets in Patidar dominated areas.
On Saturday, PAAS had asked Congress to clear their intentions and had issued an ultimatum.
PAAS had asked Congress for at least 20 seats from the former's quota.
Meanwhile, the Other Backward Classes (OBC) group, led by Alpesh Thakor, has demanded 12 seats.
Thakor joined the grand old party recently.
The two-phase Gujarat election is scheduled to be held on Dec 9 and 14. The counting of the votes will take place on Dec. 18.
The BJP is in power in the state since 1995.
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