MUMBAI: The battle for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) got an interesting political twist on Tuesday with Hardik Patel, Gujarat’s young leader who spearheaded the Patidar agitation in that State, joining hands with the Shiv Sena.
Mr. Patel, who arrived in the city on Monday, addressed a joint press conference with Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray at Matoshri in suburban Mumbai, and said he had come to bow in front of late Bal Thackeray whom he always idolised.
Asked whether he would campaign for the Sena in the Gujarati-dominated pockets in the city, Mr. Patel said he now stands with good people and is set to defeat those who have created an atmosphere of fear. “I have come here as a friend. Wherever they need me, I will stand with them. The Gujarati and Marathi communities always stand together,” he said. Referring to Sena as a tiger, Mr. Patel said he does not think a tiger ever requires help. “I am here to seek blessings. I demand a fear free atmosphere,” he said.
Asked about his political ambition, Mr. Patel said he is only 23. “I have a lot to learn. I am learning and understanding things. It is not only about politics and contesting elections,” he said.
Stressing that the new found friendship with Mr Patel is here to last, Mr. Thackeray said his party has now started contesting polls outside Maharashtra. “After Goa and Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat could be next. If we contest in Gujarat, Hardik Patel will be our face,” he said.
Sons of soil
Mr Patel was recently in the news after he vowed to make Gujarat a BJP- free state. Sena too has snapped electoral ties with the BJP ahead of the civic polls in the State. Always aggressive on the party’s sons of soil agenda, Sena in last few years have made attempts to woo other communities, especially Gujarati. Mr Thackeray’s repeated meetings with traders in the post-demonetisation period and successive attacks on the government was an indication of it.
Hemraj Shah, a former Nationalist Congress Party leader who recently joined the Sena, said it would be wonderful if Mr. Patel decides to campaign.
“As of now there is no fixed schedule. But from now on, Gujarati community stands with the Sena,” he said.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis however dismissed chances of an adverse impact on the BJP. “When people realise that they are losing, they choose to meet so many people,” he taunted. Ridiculing Mr. Thackeray’s statement of ‘notice period’ he said his government will complete five years. “He (Uddhav Thackeray) can talk about Narendra Modi all he wants, but first get past Devendra,” he replied on Mr. Thackeray’s challenge to get Mr. Modi to campaign in Mumbai.
