(Source: Express Photo)On a visit to Mehsana in north Gujarat in December last year, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi had visited Umiya Mata temple in Unjha town and performed aarti. While Maa Umiya is the reigning deity of Kadva Patel community, Goddess Khodiyar in Khodaldham is revered by Leuva Patels. While the Congress had influential Patidar leaders in Saurasthra in the past, over the years the party has lost most of them to the BJP. On Monday, Hardik Patel, a Kadva Patidar himself and leader of the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti, which had led the Patidar quota agitation, tweeted welcoming Rahul to Gujarat. “Talks have been positive so far,” a senior party leader said.

Source: Indian Express September 27, 2017 00:07 UTC