Taking the BJP head-on for it reported overtures to a few Patel leaders to join the party by ‘paying them heavily’, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi has stated that Gujarat was an ‘invaluable’ State in India which was not for ‘sale’.

Rahul Gandhi’s latest Twitter posting follows a revelation by Narendra Patel (prominent leader of the Patel community which is upset with the BJP on many issues) that the BJP offered Re.1 crore to him to join the party. It may be recalled that the dominant Patel community had been protesting hard for the past two years under Hardik Patel demanding special reservation to the community.

With Assembly polls round the corner, the reservation issue might figure prominently on poll campaigns of the BJP and the Congress.  Narendra Patel told the media yesterday that he was offered Re.1 crore to join the BJP and was paid an advance of Rs.10 lakhs. On hearing this, another prominent leader Surat Nikhil Sawani said he was upset with the BJP’s tactics and would be quitting the party.

Taking the BJP on in his Twitter postings, Rahul Gandhi said “Gujarat is invaluable; it is not for sale. Nobody can purchase it and we won’t allow it at any cost!”  In the meantime, the BJP has denied Narendra Patel’s allegations and said that it was a ‘drama’ stage-managed by Patel in association with the Congress.