“Nitin Kaka Withered Away, We Became Unemployed”: Cross-Party Patidar Leaders Share Stage in Gujarat

A rare display of political camaraderie unfolded in Gujarat as senior Patidar leaders across the political spectrum—representing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Congress, and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)—shared a single platform on the occasion of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s birth anniversary. Organised by the Shree Sardar Patel Seva Dal (SPG), the Patidar Mahasammelan brought together fierce electoral rivals to focus on community unity, youth empowerment, and socio-economic reforms.

The standout moment of the gathering came during an address by former Leader of Opposition and senior Congress figure Paresh Dhanani. Turning directly to former Deputy Chief Minister and veteran BJP leader Nitin Patel, Dhanani delivered a sharp yet lighthearted quip:

“નીતિન કાકા કરમાઈ ગયા અને અમે પણ નવરા થઈ ગયા.”

("Nitin Kaka withered away [got sidelined], and we ended up becoming unemployed as well.")

The satire, touching upon how veteran stalwarts across both ruling and opposition ranks have seen their active executive influence shift following recent political realignments, drew widespread laughter from the audience and set a relaxed tone for the rest of the summit.

Beyond the Politics: Youth and Agrarian Welfare

Despite their differing party affiliations, all three prominent leaders aligned on pressing issues facing the Patidar community:

• Nitin Patel (BJP) took the ribbing in good humor, remarking that the ability of rival political figures to sit on the same stage reflects the inherent strength and maturity of the community. He called upon the youth to draw inspiration from Sardar Patel’s principles of civic duty, push for higher representation in civil services, and actively curb extravagant expenditures on social ceremonies.
• Paresh Dhanani (Congress) stressed that political labels should never prevent leaders from championing rural causes. He appealed to senior Patidar figures within the ruling party to use their leverage to push for comprehensive farmer relief, guaranteed irrigation access, and agricultural security.
• Gopal Italia (AAP) focused heavily on systemic youth mentorship, urging social bodies like the SPG to launch targeted anti-addiction drives across the state and build structured guidance programmes for competitive examinations.

A United Non-Partisan Forum

Organisers of the Sardar Patel Seva Dal reiterated that the Mahasammelan was fundamentally a social initiative. By bringing together top figures from the BJP, Congress, and AAP under one roof, the event demonstrated that when it comes to social security, educational progress, and rural dignity, community welfare commands priority over party flags.