AHMEDABAD: in the course of the political battle in Gujarat which has embarked on right after the new government set in motion, Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) leader Hardik Patel has invited deputy chief minister Nitin Patel to shake hands with him.

Hardik Patel has said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is hurting self-esteem to "his experienced leader and everyone should stand with him".

This comes after the Gujarat deputy chief minister, has been naked of three major portfolios - finance, urban development and petroleum, did not take grant office in the Sachivalaya in Gandhinagar on Friday even as various ministers took charge.

"Nitin Patel can join us if the BJP is not giving him respect. He has worked hard for the party," Hardik told media persons on Saturday morning at Botad where the PAAS is holding Chintan Shibir to analyze the assembly poll results.

Hardik added, "if he is ready to quit the BJP and if he is saying that 10 MLAs are ready to quit BJP with him, then we are ready to support him. I will talk to the Congress to welcome him and to give him a proper post". As quoted by TOI

For now, state Congress president Bharatsinh Solanki has made a statement that "Congress is watching the situation. After Anandiben Patel, now it's Nitin Patel on BJP leadership target." In Gujarat's significance, we may structure the government if we get a hold of few BJP MLAs and Nitinbhai Patel, Solanki averred.