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Veteran politician Keshubhai Patel, who quit the Bharatiya Janata Party earlier this year to take on Chief Minister Narendra Modi in the coming Gujarat assembly elections, on Saturday said the people of the state desired a change of government.
"After my parivartan yatra through the state, I felt that the undercurrent seeking to change this non-performing government is strong, especially amongst the poor and jobless youth," said Patel, who has founded the Gujarat Parivartan Party.
"People are emotionally attached to us and I am confident that the huge turn-out at my rallies would translate into votes, bringing us to power," he said.
"Many people told me that the Modi government is useless, throw it out. The fact is that people who turned out in large numbers at GPP's gatherings are voters of both the parties (Congress and BJP)," said Patel.
Asked whom his party would lend support to in the event of a hung assembly, Patel said his party would be voted to power and may bag more seats than needed for a simple majority.
The state would go to polls on December 13 and December 17 and counting will take place on December 20.
Replying to a query as to how many disgruntled BJP Members of Legislative Assembly were in touch with the GPP and if they would get party tickets, Patel said, "Only powerful and competent candidates will be given tickets."
According to GPP, it has received over 1,158 applications from aspiring candidates for 182 constituencies.