Cong woos Patidars to gain political mileage

 After a string of losses, the Congress is now keeping a watchful eye on the numerous agitations on a range of issues to regain political space across the country.

On the Congress radar is the stir for job quotas by the powerful Patidar community in Gujarat and Kapu community in Andhra Pradesh.

Also, Congress leaders are keenly following the developments in cases of atrocities against the oppressed classes after the infamous flogging of four Dalit youths at Una in Gujarat last year, the unrest in the tribal ranks in Jharkhand following the BJP’s decision to amend tenancy laws, and the silent protests by the Maratha community in Maharashtra.

“We are analysing the different agitations that are taking place across the country so that we can take up popular issues,” a senior Congress leader said.

However, he said the party needed to exercise caution as the issue of reservation in government jobs could prove to be a landmine. The Congress had tried to find a meeting ground with Patidar agitation leader Hardik Patel in Gujarat. But, their demand for scrapping job quotas altogether if Patels did not get them was difficult for the Congress to accept.