Congress president Sonia Gandhi today appointed senior party leaders Ahmed Patel and Kapil Sibal to speak to Patdar community representatives over their demands including reservation in government jobs and educational institutions.
Sources say that the Congress chief has asked the two leaders to see what can be offered as per constitution/law on their demand for reservation.
She has also asked them wo work upon a plan to find amicable solution to the issue.
Sources added that Congress’ Gujarat unit leaders will visit Delhi on Sunday and will meeting both Patel and Sibal.
The development comes close on the heels of Patidar quota agitation leader Hardik Patel’s claim that Sonia Gandhi will take a final call on the demands including reservation to the community.
According to him, the grand old party is expected to announce its decision before November 8. He even claimed that Kapil Sibal has already done a study on how to provide reservation to the non-reserved community and submitted a report to Sonia Gandhi.
Hardik had last week issued an ultimatum to the Congress to clarify its position on quotas for Patels by November 3. He had even refused to meet Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, saying “he will meet the Congress leader only if the party explains how it proposes to give reservations constitutionally”.
Patel had also maintained that if the Congress clarifies its stand on quotas for the Patels, he will not have issues in supporting the Congress in the forthcoming state Assembly elections.
Gujarat will go to polls in two phases on December 9 and December 14. Results of the 182 Assembly seats will be declared on December 18.
