Alpesh Thakor joins Congress

Alpesh Thakor, the OBC SC ST Ekta Manch and Thakor Sena president, joined Congress in presence of Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Monday in Gandhinagar.

The Thakor (OBC) community dominates the vote bank in North Gujarat and Central Gujarat. Addressing the public rally held under the banner of Janadesh Sammelan at Gandhinagar, Thakor said, "I would challenge BJP that if it wishes to send me behind bars, it can. If they can lynch me, they can. I would appeal you all that if I am killed by the BJP, you should pay real tribute to me by voting for Congress. I take an oath here that I will stay loyal to my community. I would work in the direction so as Congress could win over 125 seats in Gujarat."

He held BJP's claim over more than 150 seats as baseless and hollow. He also clarified that he did not surrender before the pressure of BJP. "People asked me why I joined Congress. I joined it for my self-respect and trust my community had imposed on me. I did not succumb to pressure of BJP and their offerings like position, power and money. I can live without power and money but cannot live without your love. I promise that I would not stab in your back by making any compromise for power or money."

Alpesh said that he chose Rahul Gandhi's leadership as he listened to the voice of the poor. Saying that he and his 'poor Thakor community' can survive on ordinary food like Bajra roti, onion and green chilli but would not vote for BJP for lucrative offers. He also took a potshot at Gujarat BJP chief Jitu Vaghani and said that he had made fun of OBCs by saying their votes can be purchased by offering liquor.

"We would bring the party in power which works for poor and deprived people, farmers, unemployed youth and implements strict liquor prohibition. I, Hardik (Patel) and Jignesh (Mevani) ran movements against BJP government on different issues but the goal was the same that there should be equality. I would request my younger brothers Hardik and Jignesh from this dais to fight together for pride of Gujarat," Thakor added.

‘CONSUME LIQUOR BUT DON’T VOTE FOR BJP’

• In the public rally of Rahul Gandhi, Alpesh Thakor said that there should be strict implementation of (liquor) Prohibition in the state as 10-15,000 thousand youths are killed due to its addiction in Gujarat every year. Contrary to this, leader of opposition in the Gujarat Assembly and senior Congress MLA Mohansinh Rathwa appealed that if BJP offers liquor before polls, people should consume it but should not vote for the BJP.

WHAT THEY SAY

I did not come here for Rahul Gandhi. I came hearing the call of Alpesh Thakor to his community. I will vote for whoever the community says we should vote for.
Dashrath Thakor, 42, Mehsana

I have not made up my mind on which party to vote for. I came here because Alpesh is here.
Mangal Thakor, 30, Banaskantha

Alpesh has aligned himself with the Congress. This means he wants to fight as a member of the Congress. We will vote for them
Devabhai Thakor, 62, Sami, Patan

Devusinh lashes out at Congress

Gujarat BJP held Alpesh an agent of Congress. Cabinet minister in Gujarat government and Kheda MP Devusinh Chauhan held joint press conference on Monday at BJP headquarters in Shrikamalam and said, “Alpesh has been a worker of Congress for many years and created drama as if he was a messiah of the OBC community. Our Thakor community people are naive but not gullible. He cannot drive them for his political agendas. Congress in Parliament opposed the BJP-led central government’s bill on providing legislative status to OBC commission and Alpesh has joined that party, which is unfortunate.”