In a major boost to Congress ahead of the assembly polls in Gujarat, OBC, SC and ST Ekta Manch (OSS) leader Alpesh Thakor met Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and announced that Mr Gandhi will attend rally on 23rd during which Mr. Thakor and his supporters will join Congress.
Mr Thakor rose to prominence after the Patidar agitation led by 24 year old Hardik Patel demanding OBC status and quota benefits for the Patidar community in the state.
Mr. Thakor launched a counter agitation under the OBC, ST, SC Ekta Manch to safeguards the interests of those communities which are entitled to quotas in education and government jobs.
“I am very happy that Mr Thakor had a meeting with our Vice President and agreed to join the Congress party. I hope that the Patidar agitation leader Hardik will also join us,” Gujarat Congress president Bharatsinh Solanki said after the meeting with Mr. Gandhi.
The meeting was also attended by Mr. Solanki and Congress general secretary in charge for Gujarat Ashok Gehlot.
On Saturday, Mr Solanki also told media that the Congress party invited Alpesh Thakor, Hardik Patel and Dalit agitation leader Jignesh Mevani to contest the assembly polls from the Congress party.
