Banaskantha Election Result: Congress’s Geniben Thakor wins first seat in Gujarat after 10 years in Lok Sabha elections

Banaskantha Election Result: In a significant victory, Congress’s Geniben Thakor defeated Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Rekha Chaudhary in the Banaskantha Lok Sabha seat by a margin of 30,000 votes on Tuesday. This win disrupts the BJP's objective to secure all 26 seats in Gujarat for a third consecutive term.

Gujarat Election Results:

Early election trends had indicated a promising performance for the Congress in Gujarat, with leads in four seats. However, Thakor ultimately emerged as the sole winner for her party in the state.

Banaskantha Election Result:

Banaskantha has traditionally been a BJP stronghold. In the 2019 elections, BJP’s Parbatbhai Patel secured the seat with a substantial margin of 368,000 votes over Congress’s Parthi Bhatol. The BJP had also won this seat in the 2014 elections.

Banaskantha Election Result: Reasons for Thakor's Victory

Political analysts credit Thakor’s victory to her strong grassroots connection and the significant support she received from the Thakor community, which holds considerable influence in Banaskantha.

Congress's Performance in Gujarat

The Congress's win in Banaskantha stands out as the party failed to secure any seats in Gujarat during the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Notably, in the 2009 elections, the Congress won 11 out of the 26 seats in Gujarat, while the BJP won 14.

Experts highlighted the importance of Thakor's local influence in her win. The victory is significant for Congress, particularly in Gujarat, the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, where the BJP has been dominant in recent years.