Gujarat leader Naresh Patel meets Prashant Kishor; says yet to finalise party

Influential Patidar leader Naresh Patel who heads Shree Khodaldham Temple Trust on Saturday said he had met poll strategist Prashant Kishor in New Delhi but has not finalised the party he may join ahead of the Gujarat Assembly electionsAmid speculation that he may join Congress at the behest of Kishor Patel said that he will take a final call on which political party to join based on a public opinion survey being conducted by a committee of the Shree Khodaldham Trust SKTPatel has said that leaders from all the three parties Congress AAP and BJP had met himKishor is learnt to have suggested top Congress leadership to induct Patel into Congress ahead of elections due in December this year sources saidNotably quota spearhead and Gujarat Congress working president Hardik Patel had recently questioned the delay by Congress leadership over the induction of Naresh Patel into the party foldThe SKT headed by Patel manages the affairs of the Shree Khodaldham temple dedicated to the goddess Khodiyar in the Rajkot district the patron deity of the Leuva Patel communityThe Patidars form about 111237 of the population in Gujarat and are the influential caste group whose votes can sway results in many constituenciesI visited Delhi to attend a wedding ceremony yesterday Friday where I met several political leaders I met them informally I would not provide specific namesThere is no denying the fact that I have met Prashant Kishor At the wedding function I met him but this does not mean that I will be joining Congress on May 2 the 56yearold Leuva Patidar leader told reporters after landing at Rajkot airportHe said that his meeting with political leaders at the wedding function was informal and not officialI will make the final decision soon on joining a political party There is no substance in the speculation that I am joining Congress on May 2 I havent talked to anyone regarding this he saidPatel said that he will join a political party and will announce the decision himselfI am not dithering on taking a decision but it will be an important decision The survey is nearly completed I will hold a meeting on Monday and I will most likely declare it the decision by the end of this month he addedHe said that people from all the three parties Congress AAP and BJP have met him But the question is where and when I will join I am waiting for clarity I will let you know Patel addedThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever