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Rahul Gandhi to address public rally at Mehsana, hotbed of Patel agitation, today

by IBNS 21 Dec 2016, 07:42 am

Mehsana,Gujarat, Dec 21 (IBNS) : Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi will address a rally on Wednesday at Mehsana, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home district and the hotbed of Patidar quota agitation, to kick-start his partys campaign in Gujarat much ahead of the Assembl,y elections in the state.

However, his rally takes place a week before more than 1,000 gram panchayats go to elections and a a fortnight after  Modi addressed a farmers’ gathering in the same district, where he accused the Opposition of not allowing him to speak in Parliament over demonetisation.

 The Patidar hub in north Gujarat witnessed a massive agitation last year that demanded reservation for community members. 

Though the area was known for being a  key vote bank for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, the aftermath of the agitation saw the BJP lose its support base in the local body elections held in November 2015.