{{short description|Indian politician (born 1993)}} {{about||the Indian cricketer|Hardik Patel (cricketer)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2016}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Hardik Patel | image = | caption = Patel in 2018 | native_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1993|07|20|df=yes}}<ref name="hardik_cnn_2015-08-24">{{cite news | title = Meet 22 year-old Hardik Patel, the face of Patel agitation in Gujarat | url = https://www.news18.com/news/india/meet-22-year-old-hardik-patel-the-face-of-patel-agitation-in-gujarat-1050694.html | author = Meghdoot Sharon | publisher = CNN-IBN | date = 24 August 2015 | access-date = 31 August 2015}}</ref> | birth_place = Viramgam, Gujarat, India | known_for = Patidar reservation | spouse = {{marriage|Kinjal Patel|2019}} | website = | party = Bharatiya Janata Party | alma_mater = Gujarat University (Bachelor of Commerce) | other_party = Indian National Congress (2017–2022) | office = Member of Gujarat Legislative Assembly | term_start = 8 December 2022 | constituency = Viramgam | predecessor = Lakhabhai Bharwad }}
'''Hardik Patel''' (born 20 July 1993) is an Indian politician. He rose to prominence in July 2015, where he led the Patidar reservation agitation that sought Other Backward Class (OBC) status for the Patidar caste.
He joined the Indian National Congress (INC) in 2020. He served as the Working President of the Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee, the state unit of INC in Gujarat. He left the party and eventually joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in 2022.
==Early life == Hardik Patel was born on 20 July 1993<ref name="hardik_cnn_2015-08-24"/> in a Gujarati Patidar family to Bharat and Usha Patel. In 2004, his parents moved to Viramgam. Hardik studied from Class VI to Class VIII at Divya Jyot School in Viramgam, before moving to K B Shah Vinay Mandir, where he studied until Class XII. He was a poor student and a cricket enthusiast.<ref name="hardik_toi_2015-08-27">{{cite news |first=Roxy |last=Gagdekar | title = A budding cricketer who changed his line | url = http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/toi-cri/top-stories/A-budding-cricketer-who-changed-his-line/articleshow/48691604.cms | agency = Mumbai Mirror | newspaper = The Times of India | date = 27 August 2015 | access-date = 31 August 2015}}</ref> After completing Class XII, Hardik started helping his father, Bharat, to run a small business of fixing submersible pumps in underground water wells. Bharat was a Congress worker.<ref name="hardik_wm_toi_2015-08-27">{{cite news | title = Well-funded, organized and massive: Who's behind Hardik Patel's war machine? | url = http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Well-funded-organized-and-massive-Whos-behind-Hardik-Patels-war-machine/articleshow/48688836.cms | newspaper = The Times of India | date = 27 August 2015 | access-date = 31 August 2015}}</ref>
In 2010, Patel joined Sahajanand College in Ahmedabad. He ran for the post of general secretary of the college students' union and was elected unopposed.<ref name="hardik_ie_2015-08-30">{{cite news | title = Sunday Story: The Angry Young Patel | url = http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/sunday-story-the-angry-young-patel/ | author = Parimal Dabhi | publisher = Indian Express | date = 30 August 2015 | access-date = 31 August 2015}}</ref> In 2013, he received Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com.) degree.<ref name="hardik_toi_2015-08-25">{{cite news | title = Who is Hardik Patel | url = http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Who-is-Hardik-Patel/listshow/48663994.cms | newspaper = The Times of India | date = 25 August 2015 | access-date = 31 August 2015}}</ref><ref name="hardik_nyt_2015-08-31">{{cite news | title = Caste Quotas in India Come Under Attack | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/31/world/asia/caste-quotas-in-india-come-under-attack.html | author = David Barstow and Suhasini Raj | work = The New York Times | date = 27 August 2015 | access-date = 31 August 2015}}</ref>
== Activism == On 31 October 2012, Hardik Patel joined the Sardar Patel Group (SPG), a Patidar youth body, and within less than a month, became president of its Viramgam unit.<ref name="hardik_wm_toi_2015-08-27"/><ref name="hardik_ie_2015-09-02">{{cite news | title = Lalji Patel: 'I let Hardik run social media, he made it seem he was the leader' | url = http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/lalji-patel-i-let-hardik-run-social-media-he-made-it-seem-he-was-the-leader/ | author = Leena Misra, Parimal Dabhi | publisher = Indian Express | date = 2 September 2015 | access-date = 2 September 2015}}</ref> In 2015, Hardik Patel was ousted from his post after a conflict with the SPG leader, Lalji Patel.<ref name="hardik_wm_toi_2015-08-27" />
In July 2015 Patel's sister, Monica, failed to qualify for a state government scholarship. He was upset when Monica's friend qualified for the same scholarship through the Other Backward Class (OBC) quota even though she had scored lower marks.<ref name="hardik_nyt_2015-08-31"/> Recognizing that affirmative policies were benefiting other castes but not Patidars, Patel formed the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) which claims to be an apolitical organization that aims to get Patidars included in the OBC quota.<ref name="hardik_ie_2015-08-31b">{{cite news | title = Patel quota protest: Rally in Madhya Pradesh today, Hardik Patel lays out pan-India agitation plan | url = http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/patel-quota-stir-rally-in-madhya-pradesh-today-hardik-lays-out-pan-india-agitation-plan/ | publisher = Indian Express | date = 31 August 2015 | access-date = 31 August 2015}}</ref><ref name="hardik_ht_2015-08-31">{{cite news | title = Hardik Patel wants his protest to go India-wide | url = http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/hardik-patel-in-delhi-says-political-parties-not-welcome-in-quota-stir/article1-1385674.aspx | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150830070850/http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/hardik-patel-in-delhi-says-political-parties-not-welcome-in-quota-stir/article1-1385674.aspx | url-status = dead | archive-date = 30 August 2015 | author = Saubhadra Chatterji & Mallica Joshi | newspaper = Hindustan Times | date = 31 August 2015 | access-date = 31 August 2015}}</ref><ref name="hardik_th_2015-08-25" /><ref name="hardik_bbc_2015-08-26" />
With support of PAAS, Patel led the Patidar reservation agitation starting July 2015.<ref name="hardik_th_2015-08-25">{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/get-rid-of-reservation-or-make-everyone-its-slave-says-hardik-patel/article7587411.ece|title=Get rid of quota or make all its slave, says leader of Patel group|author=Mahesh Langa|date=28 August 2015|access-date=31 August 2015|work=The Hindu}}</ref><ref name="hardik_bbc_2015-08-26">{{cite news | title = Hardik Patel: Face of Gujarat caste protests | url = https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-34065338 | author = Geeta Pandey | publisher = BBC | date = 26 August 2015 | access-date = 31 August 2015}}</ref> He organized several rallies across Gujarat.<ref name="hardik_nyt_2015-08-31" /><ref name="hardik_bbc_2015-08-26" /> On 25 August 2015, a large number of Patidars from all over Gujarat gathered at GMDC ground, Ahmedabad for a rally. That evening, he was briefly arrested by Ahmedabad City Police when he went on fast after a rally held earlier in the day had dispersed.<ref name="hardik_bs_2015-08-25">{{cite news | title = Patidar rally youth leader Hardik Patel arrested in Ahmedabad | url = http://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/patidar-rally-youth-leader-hardik-patel-arrested-in-ahmedabad-115082501394_1.html | publisher = Business Standard | date = 25 August 2015 | access-date = 31 August 2015}}</ref> Violent protests broke out in response, forcing the Gujarat state government to impose a curfew and call in the Indian Army.<ref name="hardik_time_2015-08-26">{{cite news | title = Riots Break Out in India Over a Dominant Caste's Attempt to Gain 'Backward' Status | url = https://time.com/4011001/hardik-patel-protest-arrest-gujarat-obc/ | author = Rishi Iyengar | magazine=Time | date = 26 August 2015 | access-date = 31 August 2015}}</ref> He continued to lead the agitation until 2019.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/congress-leader-hardik-patel-arrested-for-evading-sedition-case-trial/1827668/|title=Congress leader Hardik Patel arrested for evading sedition case trial|date=2020-01-18|website=The Financial Express|language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-18}}</ref>
In 2016, Patel's close aides Chirag Patel and Ketan Patel have alleged he misused Patidar community's fund for living a "luxurious" life.<ref>{{Cite news |date=23 August 2016 |title=Aides turn against Hardik Patel, accuse him of misusing community's money |newspaper=The Times of India |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/Aides-turn-against-Hardik-Patel-accuse-him-of-misusing-communitys-money/articleshow/53821373.cms}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=23 August 2016 |title=Hardik Patel became crorepati within a year of launching Patidar quota stir: Former associates – Firstpost |newspaper=Firstpost |url=http://www.firstpost.com/india/hardik-patel-became-crorepati-within-a-year-of-launching-patidar-quota-stir-former-associates-2971338.html}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=23 August 2016 |title=Hardik Patel used quota stir to become leader, amass wealth: Ex-aides |work=Hindustan Times |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/hardik-patel-used-quota-stir-to-become-leader-amass-wealth-ex-aides/story-8PNogUYyg6GXZU9eDlbvcJ.html}}</ref>
=== Lawsuits === On 18 October 2015, Patel was booked for insulting the National Flag of India, in a case registered in Rajkot. He was briefly detained for trying to disrupt the one-day international (ODI) cricket match between India and South Africa.<ref>{{Cite news |date=18 October 2015 |title='Tricolour in a case' remarks: Hardik Patel booked for sedition |work=NDTV |url=http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/hardik-patel-detained-near-rajkot-cricket-stadium-ahead-of-protest-meet-1233541}}</ref> On 19 October 2015, Patel was booked in Surat under the charges of sedition over alleged remarks about 'killing cops'. Subsequently, he was imprisoned.<ref>{{Cite news |date=19 October 2015 |title='Kill cops' remarks: Hardik Patel booked for sedition |work=The Times of India |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Kill-cops-remarks-Hardik-Patel-booked-for-sedition/articleshow/49447677.cms}}</ref> On 15 July 2016, Patel was granted bail on the condition that he would stay out of the state for six months and out of Mehsana for nine months. He moved to Udaipur for this period.<ref name="hkbail">{{cite web |date=11 July 2016 |title=Patidar leader Hardik Patel gets conditional bail in rioting case |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/hardik-patel-bail-rioting-case-patidar-agitation-2907301/ |access-date=4 August 2016 |website=The Indian Express}}</ref> He was arrested again on 18 January 2020 for failing to appear before a trial court here in a 2015 sedition case, hours after a warrant was issued against him.<ref name=":0" />
On 25 July 2018, Patel was found guilty of rioting, arson, damage to property and unlawful assembly. The three were fined Rs. 50,000 apart from the two-year imprisonment.<ref>{{Cite news |title=In 2015 Gujarat Rioting Case |work=NDTV.com |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/hardik-patel-patidar-quota-agitation-leader-held-guilty-by-gujarat-court-in-a-2015-rioting-case-1889337 |access-date=2018-07-25}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Shifa Naseer |date=2019-03-29 |title=Gujarat HC rejects Hardik Patel's plea to stay conviction in Mehsana rioting case, can't contest polls |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/elections/lok-sabha-2019/story/gujarat-hc-rejects-hardik-patel-plea-stay-conviction-mehsana-rioting-case-cant-contest-lok-sabha-elections-1489501-2019-03-29 |work=Indiatoday.in}}</ref> He appealed the order and could not contest in the 2019 Indian general election pending the outcome of the appeal. On 12 April 2022, the Supreme Court stayed the order of his conviction, until his appeal against the conviction was decided. The stay would allow him to contest the election.<ref name="The Wire 12 April 2022">{{cite news |date=12 April 2022 |title=Supreme Court Stays Rioting and Arson Conviction Against Hardik Patel |work=The Wire |url=https://thewire.in/politics/supreme-court-stays-rioting-and-arson-conviction-against-hardik-patel |access-date=12 April 2022}}</ref>
On 9 May 2022, the city sessions court allowed withdrawal of rioting charge against him.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Saeed Khan |date=May 9, 2022 |title=Ahmedabad court allows govt to withdraw criminal case against Hardik Patel |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/ahmedabad-court-allows-govt-to-withdraw-criminal-case-against-hardik-patel/articleshow/91442898.cms |access-date=2022-05-10 |website=The Times of India |language=en}}</ref>
== Political career == Patel backed the campaign of the Indian National Congress (INC) in the 2017 Gujarat legislative assembly election.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/politics/buzz-in-delhi-hardik-and-sena-share-common-goals|title=Buzz in Delhi: Hardik and Sena share common goals|website=National Herald|date=23 November 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.firstpost.com/politics/congress-promises-to-bring-legislation-for-patidar-reservation-without-altering-obc-share-of-quota-4242091.html |title=Congress promises to bring legislation for Patidar reservation, without altering OBC share of quota |work=firstpost.com |date=2017-12-04}}</ref> In November 2017, a sex tape of Patel was released on social media and went viral. Patel said that he was a victim of dirty politics and the video only proved that he is not impotent.<ref>{{cite web |title=Hardik Patel on sex CD: I am yet to marry and I am not impotent |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/hardik-patel-sex-cd-dirty-politics-gujarat-assembly-election-1085467-2017-11-13 |website=India Today}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Hardik Patel's Alleged Sex Tape Rocks Patidar Movement in Gujarat |language=en |work=The Quint |url=https://www.thequint.com/state-elections-2017/hardik-patel-sex-tape-gujarat-elections |access-date=2017-11-13}}</ref> On 12 March 2019, he joined the INC.<ref name="NDTV_HardikJoinedINC">{{cite news|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/patidar-leader-hardik-patel-joins-congress-in-presence-of-rahul-gandhi-2006417|title=Patidar Leader Hardik Patel Joins Congress In Presence Of Rahul Gandhi|date=12 March 2019|publisher=NDTV}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aninews.in/news/national/politics/hardik-patel-joins-congress-in-ahmedabad20190312175551/|title=Hardik Patel joins Congress in Ahmedabad|website=aninews.in|language=en|access-date=2019-03-15}}</ref> During campaigning for the 2019 Indian general election, he made comments against people of Nepal which were described as racist while targeting incumbent Prime Minister Narendra Modi.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Saumya |first1=Trivedi |date=23 April 2019 |title=Hardik Patel attacks PM Modi with a racist jibe: 'Will go to Nepal for chowkidars, I want a PM in India' |publisher=Times Now |url=https://www.timesnownews.com/elections/article/hardik-patel-attacks-pm-modi-with-a-racist-jibe-will-go-to-nepal-for-chowkidars-i-want-a-pm-in-india/405655 |access-date=26 April 2019}}</ref>
He was appointed the Working President of Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee, the state unit of INC, on 11 July 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-07-12 |title=Congress appoints Hardik Patel as working president of Gujarat unit |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/patidar-leader-hardik-patel-appointed-as-congress-working-president-in-gujarat-6501117/ |access-date=2022-06-01 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Hardik Patel Appointed Working President of Congress's Gujarat Unit with Immediate Effect |url=https://www.news18.com/news/politics/hardik-patel-appointed-working-president-of-congresss-gujarat-unit-with-immediate-effect-2711865.html}}</ref> He accused the leadership of INC and he praised the BJP and was expelled from the party on May 16, 2022 for anti-party activities.<ref name="Nasbandi NDTV 14 April 2022">{{cite news |date=22 April 2022 |title=In Gujarat, Hardik Patel lauds BJP's policies; vouches for Hindutva |pages= |work=www.newindianexpress.com |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2022/apr/22/in-gujarat-hardik-patel-lauds-bjp39s-policies-vouches-for-hindutva-2445265.html |access-date=22 April 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last= |first= |date= |title=Hardik Patel lauds BJP for strong leadership |language=en-IN |work=The Pioneer |url=https://www.dailypioneer.com/2022/page1/hardik-patel-lauds-bjp--for-strong-leadership.html |access-date=23 April 2022 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>
After being in strident opposition to the Bharatiya Janata Party for years, he eventually joined them on 2 June 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-06-02 |title=Hardik Patel joins BJP after quitting Congress months ahead of Gujarat elections |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/hardik-patel-joins-bjp-after-quitting-congress-months-ahead-of-gujarat-elections-101654154017287.html |access-date=2022-06-02 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref>
He was fielded as BJP candidate for Viramgam Assembly constituency for 2022 Gujarat Legislative Assembly election on 10 November 2022 and was elected. In 2023, Hardik Patel, BJP MLA, urged Union Minister of Culture, G Kishan Reddy, to restore Munsar Lake in Gujarat's Viramgam and requested the appointment of an Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) team for its maintenance.<ref>[https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/gandhinagar/hardik-patel-urges-union-minister-to-restore-munsar-lake-in-gujarat-8688819/ The Indian Express]</ref>
== Personal life == Hardik Patel married his childhood friend Kinjal Parikh on 27 January 2019 in Digsar of Muli taluka, Surendranagar district, Gujarat.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/patidar-leader-hardik-patel-married-to-childhood-friend-kinjal-parikh/story-P6mSXdAWMaSunEc7KC7joN.html|title=Patidar leader Hardik Patel married to childhood friend Kinjal Parikh|date=2019-01-27|work=Hindustan Times|language=en|access-date=2019-03-04}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/hardik-patel-gets-married-to-childhood-friend-says-wife-will-aid-in-fight-for-patidar-rights-2015805.html|title=Hardik Patel Gets Married to Childhood Friend, Says Wife Will Help in Fight for Patidar Rights|website=News18|date=27 January 2019|access-date=2019-03-04}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Patel, Hardik}} Category:1993 births Category:Living people Category:Indian activists Category:People from Ahmedabad district Category:Bharatiya Janata Party politicians from Gujarat Category:Indian National Congress politicians from Gujarat Category:Gujarat MLAs 2022–2027