I am very much in Congress, says Gujarat leader Hardik Patel amid exit rumours

Amid speculation of his exit, Gujarat Congress Working President Hardik Patel attended a public meeting in Dahod and insisted that he is still very much in the party.

Amid speculation of his exit, Gujarat Congress Working President Hardik Patel attended a public meeting organised by the party and insisted that he is still very much a party man.

Speaking to India Today at the Adivasi Satyagraha Rally in Dahod, Hardik Patel said with a smile, "Why will I not come to the event, I am working president of Congress. When central leadership comes, I will definitely come. I am very much in the Congress party."

When asked if he will raise his disaffection with the state leadership before former Congress president Rahul Gandhi, Patel gave an oblique reply: "When central leadership is here, they will definitely speak to state leadership. And not just me, they will discuss other things as well."

Last month, the Congress leader sent the rumour mills churning when he apparently removed the party name from his bio on social media and changed his photo to one of him sporting a saffron shawl.

Quelling the rumours that it signalled his exit from Congress, Patel said, “Everybody changes WhatsApp DP [display picture], sometimes with their wife, sometimes with their mom. I have just changed from working president to social and political activist, what is wrong with that? I am with Congress.”

On Patidar leader Naresh Patel’s recent meetings with the BJP, Hardik Patel said, "I will just say a decision should be taken by Naresh Patel soon. He is in talks with central leadership, so I won't interfere, but he is wise man and should decide soon."

READ | Hardik Patel hits out at Congress party in Gujarat, praises BJP for good work