Gujarat Congress started out with all their might to showcase a united opposition against the BJP in poll bound Gujarat. But things took an ugly turn two weeks before the voting as the Paditars and Congress leaders got down and dirty and Congress had to ‘escape’ the wrath of angry PAAS leaders.
PAAS – Congress workers sort into hand to hand fight in Surat over seats and candidates issue; late evening drama at Bharatsinh Solanki’s residence https://t.co/dy5kdBg9Pu
— DeshGujarat (@DeshGujarat) November 19, 2017
Gujarat Congress President Bharat Solanki refused to talk with the PAAS leaders and police was called in to prevent PAAS (Patidar Ananamat Andolan Samiti) workers from entering Solanki’s house. Police had to be deployed outside Congress headquarters and the roads leading to it to avoid any untoward incident.
Late after midnight Police on request of Congress leader Himmatsinh Patel prevents PAAS group to enter inside Bharatsinh Solanki’s bungalow followed by argument by PAAS convener and little force applied by police https://t.co/dy5kdBg9Pu
— DeshGujarat (@DeshGujarat) November 19, 2017
Fun begin !! Fight going on between Patidar Groups vs Congress #GujaratElections2017 pic.twitter.com/5q2Am0OWLg
— eMpTy (@MehulTewar) November 19, 2017
We had earlier reported how Congress is taking the Patidars for a ride. Now it seems there is a divide between the PAAS leaders themselves as they are not happy with some getting tickets and them being sidelined.
Angry PAAS cadre hits the street. Congress office in Ahmedabad shut down.Bharat Solanki’s home gheraoed by PAAS’s Patel youth because Lalit Vasoya n Amit Thumer, PAAS crore Committee members given ticket by Congress. PAAS claim it won’t allow Lalit and Amit to file nomination.
— Sheela Bhatt (@sheela2010) November 19, 2017
Now PAAS divided into two factions. One Group wants to contest elections while other doesn’t…it’s getting murkier. pic.twitter.com/QtmKnAvojj
— Chhayank Mehta (@chhayank) November 19, 2017
And as if PAAS leaders throwing shade at Congress was not enough, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has decided to part ways with Congress and to independently field candidates on all 182 seats in Gujarat Assembly.
We wanted to contest in Gujarat in alliance with Congress and had talks with them too initially, but Congress did not seem serious and kept on delaying,so we will fight alone.Confident that we will do even better alone:Praful Patel,NCP pic.twitter.com/eYBRbUrZi0
— ANI (@ANI) November 20, 2017
Interestingly, NCP had won only 2 seats in 2012 elections.
As if coalition falling apart wasn’t bad enough for Congress, Congress workers themselves are angry with Congress accusing Congress of ‘cheating’ them. Workers from Bharuch, Sonia Gandhi’s advisor Ahmed Patel’s home turf, even accused Congress of doing ‘gaddari‘
भरूच में भी कार्यकर्ताओं ने कहा उनके साथ धोखा हुआ।कोंग्रेस के खिलाफ उम्मीदवार खड़ा करेंगे।@INCGujarat @INCIndia @News18India pic.twitter.com/xn10UZS3Ps
— Janak Dave (@dave_janak) November 19, 2017
Important to note here that Congress had left no stone unturned and gambled away Gujarat to save Ahmed Patel’s Rajya Sabha seat in the Rajya Sabha elections held in August this year.
Meanwhile, Twitter erupted into jokes taking a dig at the soup Gujarat Congress has found itself in.
PAAS/Congress supporters beating each other.
Meanwhile Shri Amit Shah ji: pic.twitter.com/lagbBg4utI— Abhijeet Jha. (@DarrKeAage) November 19, 2017
Bhai abhi to maine Gujarat main campaigning start bhi nahi ki aur yeh haal hai pic.twitter.com/AltCKNWOV7
— Dhaval Patel (@dhaval241086) November 19, 2017
With new developments every few hours in Gujarat, get your popcorn ready as we give you regular updates of battleground Gujarat.
