Maldhari community leaders in Gujarat have dropped their demand to replace the present Banaskantha Lok Sabha Congress candidate with somebody from their community, for the "greater cause" of making Rahul Gandhi the next prime minister, it was announced here today.
Making the announcement, Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) president Arjun Modhwadia claimed that Maldhari leaders have agreed to work for the Congress.
"After the party declared Joita Patel as Congress candidate from the Banaskantha Lok Sabha seat, Maldhari leaders had asked us to rethink that decision, since they wanted a candidate of their community. The issue has now been resolved, since Raghu Desai assured his co-operation to work for the party," Modhwadia told reporters here today.
Earlier, Banaskantha Congress leader Raghu Desai and other Maldhari community leaders had threatened Congress with "consequences" if he was not given the Lok Sabha ticket from Banaskantha.
At a joint press conference here today, Desai declared that he is convinced by the Congress high command's explanation and dropped the demand to replace Patel. Desai also claimed that Sonia Gandhi's political advisor Ahmed Patel had convinced him to work for the "greater cause".
"Ahmed Patel told me to focus all my attention towards making Rahul Gandhi India's next PM. Since cow slaughter is rampant under BJP-led government in Gujarat, it is also my duty as a Maldhari to stop BJP from forming a government in Delhi. Thus, I assured my full co-operation to Ahmedbhai and dropped my demand for the greater cause," Desai said.
Earlier, local Muslim leaders of the Congress had objected to party's decision to field Ishwar Makwana from Ahmedabad West (SC) seat. However, they too wound up their protest shortly after talking to Modhwadia.
"Now, there is no dissatisfaction in any of our leaders or workers about selection of candidates. I firmly believe that the Congress will secure at least 13 seats in the state," Modhwadia said.
