'Instead of Wasting Time...': AAP's Invite To Sulking Gujarat Congress Leader Hardik Patel Ahead Of Polls

He had also posted on his Twitter handle that he is dedicated to working for the state and not hungry for the post. He also wrote that truth should be spoken as he wishes the good for the party.

Gujarat Congress leader Hardik Patel | ANI

New Delhi: Months ahead of the Gujarat assembly polls, Congress leader Hardik Patel on Friday clarified that he has no intention of quitting Congress and joining the Aam Aadmi Party. Patel’s statement came after AAP Gujarat chief Gopal Italia offered Patel to join the party after rumors of infighting and rift in Congress.

“If Hardik Patel is not liking it in Congress, he should join a like-minded party like AAP. Instead of complaining to Congress, wasting his time, he should contribute here... A party like Congress would not have a place for dedicated people like him," Italia was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

However, any such claims were denied by Patel as he said, “I have given my 100 percent to Congress till now, and will give the same in the coming days. We will do better development in Gujarat. There will be small fights and blame games within the party, but we have to work together to make Gujarat a better place.”

He had also posted on his Twitter handle that he is dedicated to working for the state and not hungry for the post. He also wrote that truth should be spoken as he wishes the good for the party.

"Truth should be spoken because I want the good of the party. The people of the state keep hope from us and if we cannot live up to that expectation, then what is the meaning of this leadership! To date, I have done the work of giving the best to the party and will continue to do so. They are hungry for work, not for the post,” he wrote in a loosely translated post from Hindi.

सच बोलना चाहिए क्योंकि मैं पार्टी का भला चाहता हूँ। प्रदेश की जनता हमसे उम्मीद रखती है और हम उस उम्मीद पर खरे न उतर सके तो फिर इस नेतागीरी का मतलब क्या हैं ! मैंने आज तक पार्टी को श्रेष्ठ देने का काम किया है और आगे भी करने वाला हूँ। पद के मोहताज नही काम के भूखे हैं।

— Hardik Patel (@HardikPatel_) April 14, 2022

The rumors of Patel quitting the party came after he alleged the party leaders in Gujarat of sidelining him on Wednesday. 

“I am being harassed so much that I feel bad about it. Gujarat Congress leaders want that I should leave the party," Patel told news agency PTI.

Patel had given a statement on Wednesday saying that “his position in the party has become like that of a groom who has had a vasectomy.”

Patel’s anguish is also rooted in the fact that Congress is looking forward to inducting Naresh Patel in the party who is another Patidar leader. 

Hardik Patel led the Patidar agitation of Gujarat in 2017 which benefitted Congress and he finds the induction of another Patidar leader in the party insulting to the community.

He told PTI, “The kind of talks which are doing rounds regarding the induction of Naresh Patel in Congress is insulting for the entire community. It’s been over two months now. Why has no decision been taken yet? Congress high command or local leadership should take a quick decision about Naresh Patel’s induction.”

“Congress benefited because of us (Patel community) in the 2017 polls. Now, as I am seeing on television the party wants to induct Naresh Patel for the 2022 polls. I hope they do not search for a new Patel for the 2027 elections. Why does the party not utilise the people they already have?” he further added.