Congress leader Hardik Patel Monday moved the Supreme Court challenging the Gujarat High Court order rejecting his plea to stay his conviction in the 2015 Vispur rioting case.  

Election Commission cleared PM Modi of model code violation; SC said current VVPAT counting system was okay; Priyanka doubled up on her attack against PM Modi; BJP accused Congress of coining the term 'Hindu-terror'.

Hardik, who joined the Congress on March 12, had expressed his willingness to contest the election from Jamnagar Lok Sabha seat.

"Hardik Patel and I will campaign for Kanhaiya Kumar. Several people across the country will visit Begusarai to campaign for him," Mevani said here on his way to Begusarai.

In an exclusive interview with India TV, Hardik Patel said, "I feel proud to join Congress as its contibution in freedom struggle has been very recognising. Congress has been raising all the national issues and trying to find solution to it, sitting in opposition."

Hardik Patel, Patidar quota agitation leader, joined the Congress party on Tuesday in the presence of party president Rahul Gandhi and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi. 

Congress leaders on Tuesday met in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state to deliberate on poll strategy and discuss key issues like alliances and national security ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

"I am taking this step to serve the people of not only Gujarat but 125 core citizens of India," he added.

The Jamnagar Lok Sabha seat is currently represented by Poonamben Maadam of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).  

The 25-year-old married his friend at a simple ceremony in Digsar village of Muli Talika.  

Hardik had begun his indefinite hunger strike on August 25 at his residence near Ahmedabad, demanding reservation for Patidars under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category and loan waiver for Gujarat farmers.

Patel has demanded debt waiver for the farmers, reservation benefits to the Patels and release of his PAAS co-convenor Alpesh Kathiriya being held under sedition charges.   

He was admitted to the Government Civil Hospital in Sola two weeks after he gave up even taking water in protest against the government ignoring his demands.

Kejriwal took to social media and tweeted in support of Hardik Patel. 

His last desire is to donate his eyes after his death.

"Hardik Patel has expressed his wish to donate his eyes in case of his death," Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) spokesperson Manoj Panara told reporters at Hardik's residence near Ahmedabad where he has been observing fast since August 25.

Athawale said he was willing to speak to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and mediate between him and Hardik Patel. 

  Hardik was held guilty along with his two aides, Lalji Patel and A K Patel, by Visnagar court and was sentenced to two years of imprisonment in June earlier this year.

State AAP leaders visited Patel as his fast began and delivered a letter of support from party national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Dalit leader and Independent MLA Jignesh Mevani also visited him and expressed support.

Gujarat Pradesh Congress president Amit Chavda and Leader of Opposition Paresh Dhanani condemned the sudden action by the cops.