North Gujarat is the 2nd most critical region for party as it had won 17 of the 32 assembly seats from there
The rebellion Congress MLA and Thakor Sena leader Alpesh Thakor has raised question whether it will cost Congress party seats in north Gujarat, where votes of Thakor community are significant. Thakor's campaigning for independent candidates and division in Thakor votes may reduce votes to Congress, said a political observer.
Congress has fielded two Thakors, Jagdish Thakor from Patan and Rajendra Thakor from Sabarkantha. Alpesh's claim that he will canvass for representatives of Thakor Sena can hurt Congress in these seats. Party's prospects in Mehsana and Banskantha can also be affected.
North Gujarat is the second most critical part of the state for Congress party. During the state Assembly polls, the party bagged 17 seats from 32 seats in north Gujarat. Saurashtra was the region that gave maximum seats to Congress in Vidhan Sabha polls.
After resigning from all the 'posts' in Congress, Alpesh told media persons that volunteers will campaign for Sena candidates contesting as independents, rather than Congress candidates, especially in Banaskantha, Mehsana and Patan Lok Sabha constituencies. A political observer said that while the region has significant Thakor votes, the hold of Alpesh over them is exaggerated as "Thakor as a community is more loyal to Congress party in general rather than any individual leader. Candidates like Jagdish Thakor and Rajendra Thakor have good reputation in their communities as well as in their regions. The impact will depend upon to what extent Alpesh can get the pie of Thakor vote. In a neck-and-neck fight, Thakor votes can be crucial," said a political observer, on the condition of not being identified. "Jagdishbhai is a veteran and a sober person. He may not have got the media coverage that Alpesh got but he is respected more in the community. However, political controversies have dented Alpesh's image," he said.
Talking to DNA, Jagdish Thakor also reiterated the same point that Thakor community sees Congress party as its well wisher. "It is the Congress party that gave 27 per cent reservation to OBCs. It was Congress party that made Madhavsinh Solanki chief minister of Gujarat. So a majority of Thakor community is with Congress. They are well aware that their interests are best served in Congress party," said Jagdish Thakor. He also said that whatever grievance Alpesh had with the party, this was not a time to take such a step. "Congress has made Alpesh co-in-charge of Bihar, a very critical state for Lok Sabha elections," he said adding that Alpesh's canvassing for independent candidates will in no way affect fortunes of Congress.
Not right time to quit: Congress
- Jagdish Thakor from Congress said that whatever grievance Alpesh had with the party, this was not the time to take such a step.
- “Congress has made Alpesh co-in-charge of Bihar, a very critical state for Lok Sabha elections,” he said adding that Alpesh’s canvassing for independent candidates will in no way affect fortunes of Congress.
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 "Alpesh Thakor")
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