Banaskantha MP Geniben Thakor Interview: ‘Dent has not been too big but it is significant’

Moreover, during the campaign, they (BJP) would say only one thing, ‘we will close down the dairies if you do not vote for us, we will not give loans to farmers’. That sent a wrong message in the district. This played in my favour, as people believed that our leader has to be Geniben who is fearless and will take up their issues. Our leaders too asked the voters, ‘what kind of leader do you want, someone who is not scared of the government or the administration or a rubber stamp’. Everyone said, ‘we do not want a rubber stamp and want someone who fights injustice’. The people had trust that I would work for them and not for my personal gains.

What does the victory mean for you and the party?

Banaskantha voters have blessed us. But this is also a message for the party and candidates to go out and connect with the people. If candidates were announced one year in advance and contested the way I did, by being with the people, connecting with them and always ready to work for them, it would have been different. No party can work alone, be it Congress or BJP. Today, democracy has come at a point where a party’s candidate and voter support are equally significant… party alone cannot function.

Banaskantha was the only seat in Gujarat where both BJP and Congress fielded women candidates. How do you see that?

It does not matter to me whether it a man or a woman was made the candidate. I have fought all elections on general seats (not reserved seats for women). We have only one thing to do – go out among the people and work. I said only this, ‘trust me, I will work for you with my full strength, never harm you or the party for my personal gains and never break the trust’.

What do you have to say about your party MLAs joining BJP before polls? There was talks at one time about you switching sides as well.

All those MLAs who joined BJP did not listen to anyone even once. About me, they had been saying that I too will be bought over and join the BJP. But in my constituency, people know that I will not do any such thing and thus my hattrick – 2017 and 2022 Assembly elections and the 2024 Lok Sabh elections. You can do that only when you have peoples’ faith.

Did Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s campaigning for you helped?

Yes, it did immensely. People who heard her believed what she said and started saying that ‘if Priyankaji is the PM candidate, the party would have got more seats’. All candidates wanted Priayankaji to campaign for them.

How do you see your margin of over 30,000?

I was expecting a margin of over 50,000 votes but this happened due to the prashashan, its machinery with which it was able to get over 50,000 to 1 lakh bogus votes using malpractice. These included votes of those who were out of the state or district or even those who were dead.

How do you see the overall result?

It is very good. BJP’s slogan of ‘400 paar’ has fallen flat and it cannot even form the government on its own. The dent has not been too big but it is significant.

What will be your priorities as MP?

To cater to issues of education, health, employment for local residents… I will fulfil all promises made to the people.