Independent MLA Jignesh Mevani shares a word with AICC SC Department Chairman Rajesh Lilothia at a press conference at AICC Headquarters in New Delhi on May 2, 2022.
Gujarat Independent MLA Jignesh Mevani has expressed hope that the Congress may not project anyone as its chief ministerial candidate in the upcoming assembly elections in the western state and that a “collective leadership” will take on the ruling BJP. The Dalit leader, who has been working closely with the Congress though he did not officially join the party, said the party should elect a face emerging from the mass movement to lead the government if it wins the election. Speaking to PTI here, Mevani, who is campaigning for the Congress candidate contesting the bypoll in Thrikkakara assembly constituency, said he was not in the race for the top post. Asked whether the Congress would project anyone as its chief ministerial candidate in the Gujarat Assembly polls, he said, “No no… we will go with a collective leadership.”
Mevani, who won from Vadgam in Banaskantha district in 2017, said, “It is a people’s movement that generates faces. Hence, the Congress party or any other political party for that matter needs those faces who have emerged from the mass movement. ” Gujarat Assembly Elections With the support of Congress, when asked if he is ready to take up the role if he is offered this, Mevani said, “No no… I am not in that race”. . Mevani claimed that the resignation of Patidar community leader Hardik Patel from the Congress did not affect the party much. Responding to a question, he said, “Not much…temporary setback and a bit of media attention. But it doesn’t create much impact.”
Mevani, convener of Rashtriya Dalit Adhikar Manch, said the Congress has “a good chance of winning the Gujarat Assembly elections” as people are “really upset with the BJP” whose rule, according to him, has seen a slowdown. economy, rising inflation, widespread unemployment and dividing the people of the state on communal lines. “The people of Gujarat are aware of the situation – and during COVID-19, the performance of the Gujarat government was so pathetic.
He had to change the CM and the entire cabinet. There is public outrage. People are really upset with the BJP”, claimed Mevani.
Referring to the protests organized by the Congress against the BJP government in the state, when it tried to implement projects affecting tribals and all other sections of the society, he said that the Congress, after losing elections in four states, Working more sincerely for its manufacture in Gujarat. organizational base. Mevani said when he was arrested by the police for his tweets against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, thousands of people took to the streets and when the Congress party raised such issues, “there will be some momentum in our favour.” He also expressed hope that some people would join the Congress in the coming days.
Mevani, who was recently arrested by the Assam Police for tweets against Modi, alleged that the BJP government was targeting him as they were concerned about his credibility and popularity. He said, “I have a lot of credibility, people have faith in me. When I was arrested, people demonstrated everywhere. Now the Congress party is with me, Rahul Gandhi is with me. I am with them (BJP). could be a major ideological threat to the “And secondly, they had a belief for themselves that they could get away with anything.
They don’t care about perception, they don’t care about constitution, they don’t care about rule of law. Ever since I am talking against Modi and RSS, they want to teach me a lesson. They want to silence me. This is vendetta politics”, alleged Mevani.
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