Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on Sunday told PTI the Congress’ pact with the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti would not affect votes for the Bharatiya Janata Party in the upcoming polls. He accused the Congress of deceiving people about reservation for the Patidar community while members of the group were “lining up for poll tickets”, PTI reported.

“While the Congress is not speaking a word on how it will give reservation to the Patidars (if it comes to power), he (Hardik Patel) is declaring support to the Congress,” Rupani said. “This shows there is ‘saudebaazi’ (deal) (between them).”

Although the Congress has not announced a formal alliance, Hardik Patel, convenor of the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti, has openly backed the party for the upcoming elections. Reservation for the Patidar community has been a big plank in the polls, which will be held on December 9 and 14.

Earlier too, the BJP had rubbished the Congress-Patidar deal. “Though it is clear that reservation cannot go beyond 50% in any situation, Hardik is trying to misguide the Patidar community with the formula offered by the Congress,” Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel had said on November 22.

The election results will be out on December 18.