Some leaders of the Sardar Patel Group, which is part of the Patel quota agitation in Gujarat, on Wednesday met Chief Minister Anandiben Patel and extended support to the ruling BJP even as SPG chief Lalji Patel claimed those who met her were not members of his outfit. Accusing Mr. Lalji Patel of being a Congress agent and misguiding the Patel community, around 20 leaders of SPG met the CM in Gandhinagar and extended support to the saffron party ahead of the rural and semi-urban local bodies polls scheduled to take place on the coming Sunday.
SPG works closely with the Hardik Patel-led Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) to get reservation for the Patel community under OBC quota.
Polling for 31 district panchayats, 230 taluka panchayats and 56 municipalities in Gujarat is scheduled to take place on November 29.
Since the Patel stir spearhead Hardik Patel is behind bars on sedition charges, Mr. Lalji Patel has been leading the movement, vehemently urging his community members not to vote for the BJP.
