Paresh Dhanani may be chosen leader of Congress legislature party

GANDHINAGAR: Congress is likely to elect Paresh Dhanani as its legislature party leader. The defeat of party heavyweights Shaktisinh Gohil, Arjun Modhvadia, Siddharth Patel and Tushar Chaudhary has made the Congress task easier.

Forty-one-year-old Dhanani stands a clear chance to become the Opposition leader, with caste and age on his side, according to Congress insiders. A strong Patidar leader from Amreli’s Saurashtra , Dhanani has been vocal on issues of agrarian distress which cost BJP heavily in Saurashtra. He was seen accompanying Rahul Gandhi in many of his rallies in pre-election Gujarat.

Dhanani shares a great rapport with Congress president Rahul Gandhi, a party insider said and maintained that the stock of Alpesh Thakor, who joined the party just ahead of the elections and won his maiden election from Radhanpur defeating Congress turncoat Lavingji Thakor also is up.


“As Rahul ji revamps the party, these young leaders from the state will have their roles expanded,” the party insider said, adding that their age and grassroots connect were the biggest assets that helped Congress in the 2017 elections.