"No Godfather In Delhi": Hardik Patel Wants Clarity From Congress On Role

On Rahul Gandhi not meeting him personally during his Gujarat visit, a defensive Mr Patel said there was no time.

Rubbishing speculations of him joining the BJP, Gujarat Congress working president Hardik Patel today said rumours are part of politics and his complaints about the affairs of the party in the state are regular internal issues which he hopes would be resolved soon to give the party a much-needed boost as it prepares for the upcoming assembly elections. Naming Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and Sonia Gandhi, he said he does not have any issues with them and what's most important is that the party give responsibility, without favouritism, to leaders who are true to the people and want to work on the ground.

"We are different kinds of politicians because we don't come from political families. We have worked hard and made an identity for ourselves in Gujarat. We don't want to pressurise the leadership before elections to get a lucrative post," he told NDTV in an exclusive interview. 

What's important is that you give me some clearly defined responsibility, the fiery young leader said, stressing that people have a lot of expectations as it has been two years since his joining the party and the assembly elections are just six months away.

"I have travelled among the people and tried to understand their hopes and aspirations. I have travelled to 8,000 villages," Mr Patel said as he made his case for a clearly defined leadership role.