While launching a scathing attack on Congress’s senior leadership, Hardik Patel in a letter shared on social media, announced his resignation from the party, saying that the ‘big leaders of Congress in Gujarat are far away from issues of the state but are more focussed on ensuring that chicken sandwich for leaders who have come from Delhi is delivered on time!’
Speculations about Patel’s exit had been doing rounds for the past many days. Last month, the Congress leader sent the rumour mills churning when he seemed to have changed his social media bio and display picture to one of him sporting a ‘saffron shawl.’
The Patidar leader accused the Congress’ senior leadership of lacking seriousness.
‘Whenever I met with senior leadership, I always felt that leaders were not really interested in hearing about problems concerning the people of Gujarat but were more engrossed in what messages they had received on their mobile…’ he lamented.
While concluding his letter, the Patidar leader said, ‘…I believe that after this step, I will truly be able to work positively for the people of our state.’
Patel himself reacted to the developments, quelling rumors of any disgruntlement, as he said
‘Everybody changes WhatsApp DP [display picture], sometimes with their wife, sometimes with their mom. I have just changed from working president to social and political activist. What is wrong with that? I am with Congress.’
When asked if he will raise his concerns with the state leadership before former Congress President Rahul Gandhi, Patel replied, ‘When central leadership is here, they will definitely speak to state leadership. And not just me, they will discuss other things as well.’