Summary:
Kochi, May 29 (PTI) Gujarat independent MLA Jignesh Mevani has expressed hope that the Congress may not project anyone as its Chief Ministerial candidate in the upcoming Assembly polls in the Western state and a "collective leadership" would be taking on the ruling BJP.
The Dalit leader, who is closely working with the Congress although he did not join the party officially, said the party should elect the face emerging from the people"s movement to head the government if it wins the elections.
Talking to PTI, Mevani, who was here campaigning for Congress candidate contesting the bypoll in Thrikkakara Assembly constituency, however, said he was not in the race for the top post.
"No no...We will go with the collective leadership", he said when asked whether the Congress will project anyone as its Chief Ministerial face in the Gujarat Assembly polls.
"It is the people"s movement from which the faces emerge.
So, the Congress party or any other political party for that matter...
requires those faces which are emerged from people"s movement", said Mevani who won from Vadgam in Banaskantha district in 2017 Gujarat Assembly polls with Congress support, Asked if he is ready to take up the role if it is offered to him, Mevani said, "No no...I am not into those races".
Mevani claimed that Patidar community leader Hardik Patel"s resignation from the Congress did not create much impact for the party.
"Not much...temporary setback and a little bit of media attention.
But it doesn"t create much impact," he said responding to a query.
Mevani, convener of Rashtriya Dalit Adhikar Manch, said the Congress has got "more than a good chance to win the Gujarat Assembly polls" as the people are "really upset with the BJP" whose rule, according to him, has witnessed slowing down of economy, rising inflation, prevalence of unemployment and the divide the people of the state on communal lines.
"People of Gujarat are aware of the situation--and during the COVID-19, the performance of the Gujarat government was so pathetic.
They had to change the CM and entire Cabinet.
There is resentment among the masses.