Hardik Patel, Patidar leader, to contest Lok Sabha Elections: Report

Hardik Patel, the influential Patidar leader, has decided to take the political plunge. According to latest reports, Patel has announced that he will contest the upcoming General Elections. Patel made the announcement at a rally in Uttar Pradesh capital Lucknow on Wednesday. Earlier, there were reports that Patel will contest Lok Sabha polls from Gujarat’s Amreli. Interestingly, the 1993-born leader couldn’t contest polls due to age constraints. In India, a citizen must be at least 25-year-old to contest elections. The Indian Express had reported that the Opposition has offered Amreli and Mehsana to Patidar leader.

But there is no official confirmation regarding the details. It is yet not clear whether Patel will contest on any party’s ticket or will fight the elections independently. In 2017, Patel had supported the Congress during the Gujarat Assembly Elections.

Patel hit the national headlines after he spearheaded the Patidar community's state-wide agitation to demand reservation in government jobs and educational institutes. Patel was let out on bail but on the condition that he will not enter Mehsana district. His father Bharat Patel said the marriage ceremony was earlier planned at a temple in Mehsana but had to be cancelled.

Recently, the Patidar quota agitation leader tied the knot with his childhood friend Kinjal Parikh at a ceremony in Gujarat. The 25-year-old convener of the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) married Kinjal Parikh at a temple in Digsar village of Surendranagar district, around 130 kms from Ahmedabad, in the presence of close relatives and friends. "This is the beginning of the second innings of my family life. My resolution is that everyone should get equal opportunity. We have one pledged to fight together for the 'navnirman' (reconstruction) of the country.

"We will fight till the end of our breath for truth, for the people and for right to equality," Patel told reporters after the marriage ceremony.

Patel said he was in love with Kinjal Parikh, who is pursuing a course in law, since long and the marriage was later arranged by their family members.

Both Patel and his wife are natives of Viramgam in Ahmedabad district though the newly married bride's family lives in Surat.