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HomePoliticsGujarat Election 2017‘Ditched’ by close friends, Hardik Patel dissolves PAAS core committee

‘Ditched’ by close friends, Hardik Patel dissolves PAAS core committee

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Young Patidar leader makes it clear that no PAAS member except him will speak to media, pledges support to Congress.

New Delhi: Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) leader Hardik Patel has developed a deep distrust of his close confidantes that prompted him to dissolve the existing core committee of his organisation, sources close to him told ThePrint.

At a press conference in Ahmedabad Wednesday, the young PAAS leader said a new core committee will be announced soon. He also made it clear that no other PAAS leader except him will issue statements or speak to the media henceforth.

According to the sources, Hardik suspects the role of some of his close friends behind the recent ‘sex video’ episode. Besides, he believes that the alleged spat with the Congress over tickets was the handiwork of some PAAS functionaries.

After some initial hiccups, Hardik finally broke his silence Wednesday and announced his support for the Congress after the latter gave in to his demands on reservation for Patidars.

The sources said the “behaviour” of his close associates made him unhappy and in the current circumstances, he hardly trusts anyone in his team.

There were allegations of infighting within PAAS over tickets soon after the Congress released its first list. However, Hardik has denied that he had ever asked the Congress to give more tickets to PAAS leaders.

Hardik had appointed PAAS conveners in each district of Gujarat and they all became household names.

However, as the election dates are nearing, many of them have joined the ruling BJP. So far, six of Hardik’s close associates have switched sides.

“Seventy per cent of the PAAS conveners today now want power and money. The BJP is offering them both and a number of them are leaving the movement for their personal gains,” said Yogesh Miyani, a Hardik aide.

While Hardik has denied having asked the Congress for more tickets, he seemed to be under pressure from some senior PAAS functionaries to drive a hard bargain with the grand old party, the sources said.

Dinesh Bhambhania, his closest associate, though was present at Wednesday’s press conference, was acting on his own while dealing with the Congress a couple of days ago.

On 17 November, when Bhambhania reached Delhi but couldn’t meet the Congress high command, he gave a 24-hour ultimatum to the party. Hardik was not kept in the loop and was immediately informed of Bhambhania’s act by Congress leaders.

Two days later, a deal was reached and Hardik was to make an announcement on 20 November. But his associates got agitated over the first list of candidates released by the Congress.

Two PAAS members — Lalit Vasoya and Amit Thummar — got tickets from the Congress. Both of these leaders were negotiating directly with the Congress.

This led others such as Bhambhania and Alpesh Katheria to protest against the Congress. Hardik never approved of PAAS members resorting to vandalism at the Congress office in Ahmedabad but some leaders were acting on their own.

The back-channel talk between the Congress and Hardik Patel continued through senior party leader Ahmed Patel in Delhi and Alpesh Thakor in Gujarat. Thakor has joined Congress recently.

The Congress did make a few changes as per Hardik’s wish such as removing Amit Thummar from the list, but told him to announce his support as early as possible, the sources said.

A further delay in announcing his support to the Congress could have resulted in a few others leaving him since parties such as the BJP and NCP are more than willing to accommodate them.

Despite Hardik’s attempt to keep his flock together, three or four PAAS functionaries are believed to be in touch with the BJP, something that has prompted him to take complete control of his organisation and form a new team in the coming days.

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