'BJP will face Bihar-like whitewash in Guj local body polls'

Linking the Nitish Kumar-led grand alliance's stellar victory in the Bihar assembly elections to the caste politics, Patels in Gujarat today termed the poll outcome as their community's "revenge" against the BJP.
Patidar Anamant Andolan Samiti (PAAS), which is fighting for inclusion of their community under the OBC quota, also said the BJP will face a similar "whitewash" in the upcoming local body polls in Gujarat.
Atul Patel, one of the PAAS conveners, said Patels in Bihar, known as Kurims, have given a befitting reply to the BJP in response to the treatment meted out to the Patel community in Gujarat by the state government.

"BJP-led Gujarat government has been doing atrocities on our community here. Now, the Patel community in Bihar, known as Kurmis, has taken the revenge from BJP by giving a huge mandate to Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, who is also a Kurmi. Patels have given a befitting reply to BJP through this mandate," Patel told reporters at a press conference.
The Patels had led an aggressive campaign for inclusion of their community under OBC quota in Gujarat under Hardik Patel who is currently in jail for sedition charge, and in his absence Atul Patel is spearheading the campaign for quota.

Patel said BJP will face similar defeat in the forthcoming local body polls, due later this month.

"Just like Bihar, Patels will show their strength in the upcoming elections here and uproot the BJP. We will vote against every BJP candidate, even if they are from our community. It is certain that BJP will face complete whitewash in the elections," he said.
Recalling the Patel quota stir, he said the community will not forget the "martyrdom" achieved by nine members from the community who died in violence that erupted after the mega rally on August 25.
"Out of her arrogance and ego, Anandiben Patel (Chief Minister) refused to accept our memorandum during the rally. That is why Patels are very angry with her. Now, to make sure that martyrdom of nine Patels does not go in vain, we have decided to reply through ballot in response to their bullets fired on us," he said.