Not Joining AAP, Says Gujarat Congress Leader Hardik Patel

While discarding these reports as "baseless", Mr Patel saw the BJP's hand behind the circulation of such "fake reports", a claim rejected by the ruling party.

Gujarat Congress working president Hardik Patel on Monday asserted he would not join the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party after reports emerged on social media said that he could be the face of AAP for the 2022 Assembly elections in the BJP-ruled state. While discarding these reports as "baseless", Mr Patel saw the BJP's hand behind the circulation of such "fake reports", a claim rejected by the ruling party. The reports emerged in the backdrop of AAP chief Kejriwal's visit to Gujarat on Monday. "I am surprised at the reports coming in from various media quarters that I am going to join the AAP and become their face for the next year's Assembly election in Gujarat. Such claims are baselss. Such fake reports are being planted in the media with a malicious intent at the behest of the BJP," Hardik Patel said in a statement.