New Delhi: Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday entered north Gujarat, the bastion of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah, and began his campaign with a visit to the Akshardham temple in Gandhinagar.
Not only do the hometowns of both Mr Modi and Mr Shah fall in this region, but the Akshardham temple belongs to the Swaminarayan sect which has a large, devoted following among the Patel. The Congress is desperately trying to woo the Patels, along with the OBCs, in the coming polls.
Mr Gandhi offered prayers to Lord Swaminarayan at the temple and began his three-day tour which will cover six districts.
He was given a rousing reception in the Patidar-dominated Majra village in Gandhinagar where he sported a cap inscribed with the slogan “Jai Sardar, Jai Patidar”.
Though Hardik Patel has said that the Patidar Amanat Anadolan Samiti will support the Congress, the two are yet to arrive at a decision on the issue of reservation for Patidars under the OBC category.
