New Delhi:
Mumtaz Patel, daughter of late Congress leader Ahmed Patel, expressed disappointment over the recent seat sharing between the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for the upcoming parliamentary elections in Gujarat. This dissatisfaction stems from the loss of Bharuch seat, a traditional stronghold of Congress, into the hands of AAP.
Congress and AAP reached an agreement on seat-sharing for several states, including Gujarat, as they aim to present a united front against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Expressing her disappointment, Mumtaz Patel wrote, “I deeply apologize to our district cadre for not being able to secure the Bharuch Lok Sabha seat in the alliance. I share your disappointment.”
“Together, we will regroup to strengthen the Congress. We will not let Ahmed Patel’s 45-year legacy go in vain. #bharuchkibeti (sic)” Ms Patel said in her post on X (formerly Twitter). couple.
I deeply apologize to our district cadre for not being able to secure Bharuch Lok Sabha seat in the alliance. I share your disappointment. Together, we will unite again @INCIndia strong .we will not let @ahmadpatel 45 years of legacy gone in vain. #bharuchkibeti
– Mumtaz Patel (@mumtazpatels) 24 February 2024
The BJP has retained the Bharuch seat for seven consecutive terms, making it an important battleground for opposition parties. There had been speculation for months that the Congress would field either Ahmed Patel’s children Faisal Patel or Mumtaz Patel to challenge the BJP’s dominance.
The seat-sharing arrangement has not only disappointed Mumtaz Patel and the district cadre of the Congress, but has also raised concerns within the party. Aam Aadmi Party will now contest elections from Bharuch and Bhavnagar in Gujarat.
Seat-sharing talks have been a significant challenge for the opposition Indian faction, with regional parties competing for a larger share. Recent electoral failures in three key states have encouraged regional powers to exert their influence, further complicating seat-sharing talks.
