Gujarat: Rahul Gandhi-Hardik Patel ‘Deal’ Hits Last-Minute Hurdle As Clashes Erupt Over Seat Sharing

The Congress and the Hardik Patel led-Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) on Sunday (19 November) clashed over sharing of seats for the upcoming assembly elections in Gujarat, Times Now has reported.

This development came just hours after the two sides reportedly reached a ‘deal’ over the issue of granting reservation to Patels if the Congress comes to power.

Clashes erupted near the office of Praful Togadia, Congress candidate from Patel-dominated Varchcha Road seat in Surat. Surat PAAS convener Dharmik Malaviya said they would not allow the city Congress office to operate unless his party gets a satisfactory seat-sharing deal from the Congress.

The Congress had reportedly promised the PAAS five seats, but the Congress list released on Sunday night featured only two leaders from the organisation. The Patel-led organisation is reported to have demanded 20 seats.

"Congress announced tickets to PAAS members without consulting our core committee. We will register a strong protest by attacking Congress offices," PAAS co-convener Dinesh Bambhania was quoted by the Times of India as saying.