Lok Sabha elections: Faisal Patel scotches rumours of his contesting as Congress candidate from Bharuch

BHARUCH/SURAT:

Faisal Patel

,

son of Ahmed Patel

,

treasurer

,

All India Congress Committee

, has scotched rumours of his contesting as Congress candidate from Bharuch Lok Sabha constituency in the upcoming elections.

He put an end to speculations about his candidature while talking to Congress workers here on Sunday. Faisal told them he has no plans to contest the elections. “Congress workers need to convince people about the party’s vision for the country’s development and to do effective booth management during the elections. No government of any other party had undertaken development works as much as witnessed during Congress rule at the centre. I will campaign for Congress in

Gujarat

, especially in Bharuch,” Faisal said.

He asked party workers to raise issues of unemployment, misuse of investigating agencies and corruption in Rafale deal.

Faisal, a graduate of Harvard Business School, is involved in welfare activities being carried out by HMP Foundation in Bharuch, Narmada and Tapi districts.

Congress is expected to join hands with Chhotubhai Vasava’s Bharatiya Tribal Party (BTP) in Bharuch. A series of meetings have been held between Congress and BTP leaders, but so far no progress has been made. Congress leaders reportedly asked Vasava to contest from Bharuch Lok Sabha constituency on their party’s symbol, but this was not acceptable to him. Vasava said if at all he contests, he would do so only on his party’s symbol. Should Congress and BTP alliance materialize, it would create problems for BJP because this constituency has tribals and Muslim voters in sizeable numbers.


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