Mumbai: The BJP’s ally Shiv Sena announced on Tuesday that Patidar agitation leader Hardik Patel would be the face of the party in the 2017 Gujarat Assembly polls.

The Hardik Patel-led Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti has been fighting for reservation for the Patel community under the Other Backward Castes (OBC) quota and the movement did have a bearing on Gujarat politics.

Hardik, who was in Mumbai to attend a series of events, met Sena president Uddhav Thackeray and after the meeting spoke of his deep respect for party founder Balasaheb Thackeray.

“I have deep respect for Balasaheb Thackeray and have come here to pay tributes,” Hardik said after visiting ‘Matoshree’, the Bandra bungalow of the Thackerays.

Uddhav and Hardik later addressed a joint press conference in which the Patidar leader came out strongly in support of the Sena. “I have come here as a friend. Wherever they need me, I will stand with them,” Hardik said.