Congress Promised reservation to Patidars in EBC not OBC

On Saturday, the Congress promised to offer reservation in jobs and education to Gujarat’s influential Patidars in the economically backward class (EBC) category, but not in the other backward class (OBC) group as demanded by the community.

The party’s stand opens the possibility of endangering its likely alliance with Patidar leader Hardik Patel, a bitter critic of the BJP government in the state going to the polls in two phases this December.

Patel threatened to disrupt Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi’s rally in Surat on November 3 if the reservation in the OBC category wasn’t assured.

The 24-year-old Patel said on Thursday he would support the Congress in the polls as he has been assured by senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot of providing reservation under the OBC quota.

“I am sure he (Gandhi) will promise OBC status if the Congress is voted to power in Gujarat,” he had said.