Former Congress leader Hardik Patel, 28, will on Thursday join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) seven years after he came into prominence as the face of the agitation for quotas in jobs and educational institutes for his Patidar community and emerged as a critic of the party. Patel quit Congress last month. He joined the party three years earlier and was elevated as its working president.
Patel’s defection is seen as an attempt to remain relevant in Gujarat, where BJP has been in power continuously for 28 years. Political commentator Jai Mrug said Patel finally seems to have come to terms with realpolitik. He added the BJP’s gesture is mere tokenism, which means that his political innings has only begun.
A BJP leader said Patel, who will join the party in presence of its Gujarat chief C R Paatil and other state leaders, will have to work his way into the party. “His ability to work as part of a team and his discipline as a party member will all be tested. There is no decorated role for him and he will have to prove his worth,” said the leader, requesting anonymity.
