Geniben Thakor: Congress’s giant killer from north Gujarat, vocal in Assembly

Geniben Thakor is one of the sitting MLAs almost certain to be fielded this time, says party insider

Though Geniben lost to Shankar Chaudhary by 11,911 votes in 2012, she left a mark. (Photo: Twitter)

She is one of the Congress’s top leaders in north Gujarat and has impressed many with her precise speeches in the Gujarat Assembly in her first term. Geniben Thakor, 46, the MLA of the constituency of Vav in Banaskantha district belongs to the numerically significant Thakor community and came to the limelight in the 2017 Assembly polls after she defeated sitting minister and senior BJP leader Shankar Chaudhary in her second attempt.

Geniben was an external student of political science at the Jain Vishva Bharati Institute. But she dropped out of graduate studies in the first year. After a tenure at the Banaskantha district panchayat, in 2012 she was given a Congress ticket from Vav, which has a significant number of voters from the Thakor and Dalit communities. Though Geniben lost to Shankar Chaudhary by 11,911 votes, she left a mark.

In 2017, in the backdrop of the state witnessing the emergence of young leaders such as Hardik Patel, Alpesh Thakor, and Jignesh Mevani, the Congress again fielded Geniben against Chaudhary and she defeated the minister by 6,655 votes. She is one of the 13 woman legislators in the current Assembly. Three of them are from the Congress and 10 are from the BJP.

A Congress insider said Geniben must be one of the sitting MLAs almost certain to be given a party ticket in the Assembly elections. “First of all, she is a giant killer who defeated a tall BJP leader and sitting minister like Shankar Chaudhary. Also, she is a politician who fulfils every expectation of her voters. She does not miss a single social function of her constituency whether it is related to marriage or death,” said the party functionary.

Parimal A Dabhi

Parimal A Dabhi works with The Indian Express as Chief of Bureau, focusing on the state of Gujarat. Leveraging his seniority and access, Dabhi is recognized for his reporting on the complex interplay of law, politics, social justice, and governance within the region. Expertise & Authority Core Authority (Social Justice and Law): Dabhi is a key source for in-depth coverage of caste-based violence, discrimination, and the state's response to social movements, particularly those involving Patidar, Dalit and OBC communities. His reporting focuses on the societal and legal fallout of these issues: Caste and Discrimination: He has reported extensively on social boycotts and instances of violence against Dalits (such as the attack on a Dalit wedding party in Patan), the community's demands (like refusing to pick carcasses), and the political responses from leaders like Jignesh Mevani. Judicial and Legal Affairs: He tracks significant, high-stakes legal cases and judgments that set precedents in Gujarat, including the convictions under the stringent Gujarat Animal Preservation Act (cow slaughter), 2002 Gujarat riots and developments in cases involving former police officers facing charges of wrongful confinement and fake encounters. Political and Administrative Oversight: Dabhi provides essential coverage of the inner workings of the state government and the opposition, ensuring a high degree of Trustworthiness in political analysis: State Assembly Proceedings: He frequently reports directly from the Gujarat Assembly, covering Question Hour, discussion on various Bills, debates on budgetary demands for departments like Social Justice, and ministerial statements on issues like illegal mining, job quotas for locals, and satellite-based farm loss surveys. Electoral Politics: His work details key political developments, including election analysis (voter turnout records), party organizational changes (like the end of C R Patil’s tenure as BJP chief), and campaign dynamics. ... Read More