Rahul Gandhi to Begin 3-day Gujarat Visit Today; OBC Leader Alpesh Thakore to Join Congress

The Congress had been wooing caste-based leaders Hardik Patel, Jignesh Mavani and Thakore in poll-bound Gujarat, with Solanki inviting them to join hands to to defeat the ruling BJP.

Published: October 23, 2017, 12:29 AM IST

https://www.india.com/news/india/rahul-gandhi-to-begin-3-day-gujarat-visit-today-obc-leader-alpesh-thakore-to-join-congress-2553113/

Ahmedabad, Oct 23: Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi will embark on a three-day visit to Gujarat on Monday ahead of the crucial Gujarat Assembly Elections 2017. His visit comes on a day when the Election Commission of India (ECI) is likely to announce the poll schedule for Gujarat. Gandhi will be addressing a rally called by Alpesh Thakore, the President of OBC , SC, ST Ekta Manch in Ahmedabad. (ALSO READ – Gujarat Assembly Elections 2017 Dates Likely to be Announced by Election Commission Today)

Thakore had met Rahul Gandhi on Friday at the latter’s resident soon after which he had announced that he would be joining the Congress. He has a strong appeal among backward classes, having worked actively on drug de-addiction in the state. During the meet, Thakore was accompanied by Congress general secretary in-charge of Gujarat Ashok Gehlot and state unit chief Bharatsinh Solanki.

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After meeting Gandhi, Thakore said, “Rahul Gandhi would be coming to our rally on October 23 and I will join the Congress party.”

“It is time to throw out the BJP in Gujarat. Unemployment is a huge problem with lakhs of youngsters without jobs, more than 74,000 farmers are neck deep in debt, illicit liquor flows freely in the state despite prohibition and education and health sectors are in a total mess,” Thakore told reporters.

He added, “Me, Hardik Patel and Jignesh are all going to join hands with the Congress party to defeat the BJP.”

The Congress had been wooing caste-based leaders Hardik Patel, Jignesh Mavani and Thakore in poll-bound Gujarat, with Solanki inviting them to join hands to to defeat the ruling BJP.

The Congress is out of power in Gujarat for 22 years.

Earlier on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded his third visit to the poll-bound state. During the visit, the PM inaugurated several development projects and even launched the Ro-Ro ferry between Ghogha and Dahej. He even slammed the Congress for attacking the Election Commission over delay in announcement of the Gujarat poll dates. The Prime Minister also defended the demonetisation and Goods and Services Tax saying that the steps were taken for the growth of the country.