Ahmed Patel’s determined win in the Rajya Sabha elections against the full might of the BJP has been a morale booster for the Congress as it gears up to make a comeback in Gujarat in the year-end Assembly elections.
Congratulations poured in for Patel from the rank and file of the Congress from across the country with party vice president Rahul Gandhi making an early morning phone call to the master political strategist, as the party hopes to replicate the victory in the upcoming Assembly elections.
“I have assured Rahul that we shall continue this fight with the same zest till the Assembly elections,” Patel said about his phone call with Rahul.
Besides party leaders, Patel also received best wishes from political rivals such as the AAP, JD(U) rebel Sharad Yadav and the Trinamool Congress (TMC).
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also spoke to Patel, indicating that plans to forge Opposition unity were well on track despite Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar joining ranks with the BJP.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi has convened a meeting of Opposition parties on Friday, the last day of the monsoon session of Parliament, to draw up an agitation plan against the Modi government for the next three months.
“The Rajya Sabha poll win against all odds has strengthened Patel’s position within the Congress, which appeared shaky ahead of the transition of power from Sonia Gandhi to Rahul,” a senior Congress leader said.
Patel is already busy drawing up plans for the year-end assembly elections in Gujarat where it has been out of power since 1995.
Patel is expected to work in tandem with AICC general secretary and former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot with whom he shares a good rapport.
DH News Service
Published 09 August 2017, 08:50 IST