Gujarat polls 2017: Hardik Patel extends deadline for Congress after it agreed to take legal opinion on quota

The Congress party has agreed to consult legal experts to frame a Bill to provide reservation to Patidar community in Gujarat, PAAS leader Hardik Patel said on Monday.

Extending the November 3 deadline for Congress to clarify its stand on quota to Patidars, Patel said, " we are not with or against anyone, we need clarity by November 7 on the issue of reservation to our community".

Not with or against anyone, need clarity by 7 Nov on issue of reservation to our community: Hardik Patel after Patidar leaders' meet w/Cong pic.twitter.com/qFMhkvf7mY

— ANI (@ANI) October 30, 2017

Hardik's statement came just hours after first formal meeting of Congress and Patidar leaders in Rajkot ahead of upcoming Gujarat assembly polls.

President of Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee Bharatsinh Solanki along with Siddharth Patel and Arjun Modhvadia met with seven representatives of the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti on Monday.

Denouncing the meeting between Congress and PAAS leaders, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani termed it as "match fixing" before Gujarat assembly elections which are schedulled to be held in two phases on December 9 and 14.

“It is known to the people of Gujarat that Hardik and the Congress are playing a fixed match,” Mr. Rupani said.

Congress party is seeking support from popular Patidar community leader Hardik Patel to counter BJP in its stronghold Gujarat ahead of upcoming assembly elections.

Earlier at a rally, Hardik Patel had expressed his indirect support to Congress by saying, “if you have to bring down a maha chor (mega thief) it doesn't matter if a chor (thief) is helped”.