Ahmedabad: The Patidars of Gujarat have all the reasons to rejoice today as the poster boy of Patidar agitation Hardik Patel is all set to drive into Gujarat after completing six months of exile on Tuesday, January 17. His supporters have made elaborate arrangements to welcome the 23-year-old poster boy of the Patel agitation.

As Hardik crosses the border at Ratanpur, Rajasthan, a cavalcade of around 5000 cars will accompany him to Himmatnagar in north Gujarat.

“Around a lakh workers have been asked to assemble at Ratanpur and Himmatnagar to welcome Hardik. He will then spell out the future course of action.” said Varun Patel, a leader of the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti. The young activist will reach Gandhinagar in the afternoon and is scheduled to meet former Gujarat chief minister Keshubhai Patel. Hardik’s supporters have said his return will mark round 2 of the Patel agitation.

Patel started the Patidar agitation for reservation in government jobs and colleges and was granted bail in a sedition case on the condition that he would stay out of Gujarat for six months. The deadline ends today.

The return of Patel is being viewed as a critical development in the state politics as he had vowed to defeat the BJP in Gujarat. On the other Arvind Kejriwal too has been trying woo the young Patidar leader into his party folds.