Alpesh Thakor – Prominent OBC leader and politician from Gujarat

Alpesh Thakor is a social activist and OBC leader turned legislator from the state of Gujarat. A member of Koli Thakor community in Gujarat, he founded Gujarat Kshatriya-Thakor Sena, unifying the fights of OBC, SC and ST communities against BJP, co-ordinating with popular leaders Hardik Patel and Jignesh Mevani. He joined Indian National Congress in 2017 and got elected to state legislative assembly from Radhanpur. However after two years he switched his affiliation to Bharatiya Janata Party and contested in 2019 by-polls on BJP candidate. He lost his sitting seat in the by-election.

Alpesh Thakor was born in 1975 in Gujarat. Initially he was a social worker, associated with the uplift of his Thakor community. He even founded Kshatriya Thakor Sena in 2011 for his fights for the community, and also demanded stricter laws against illegal trading of alcoholic drinks prevailing in the state. His efforts also helped in the de-addiction of many members of his community. His organized works reached new heights when he founded Gujarat Kshatriya-Thakor Sena. His popularity also helped him in winning LA on Congress ticket in 2017.

His association with Congress was only short-lived. Congress party alleged him of indulging in anti-party activities especially in Banaskantha Lok Sabha seat and Unja state assembly seat, and disqualified him as MLA. Thakor announced his resignation and alleged that there have been betrayals and insults in the party and no dignity is left. He quit the party on 9 April 2019 and joined Bharatiya Janata Party on 18 July 2019. Though he contested from his seat Radhanpur in a state-wide by-polls held in October 2019, he lost the seat by margin of 3500 votes. He received flaks across the nation for his defeat and disloyalty.

Alpesh Thakor – Some less-known and interesting facts

1. He has been a social activist first associated with the uplift of his community and other OBC, SC and ST communities of Gujarat and joined politics only in 2017.

2. He is best known for synchronising the fights of OBC, SC and ST communities of Gujarat against BJP. Interestingly he switched to BJP so much unexpected and conceived a defeat in by-polls.  

3. When a 14-month old girl from a Thakor community was allegedly raped by a migrant labourer from Bihar in 2018, Alpesh Thakor was among the leaders who spearheaded the movement demanding justice for the girl. He also asked to give preference to local workers than migrants in industrial sector. There were protests against the migrants across the state.

4. He was appointed general secretary of Congress party soon after he joined politics in 2017.

5. He accused Congress party of insulting and betraying his Thakor Sena and cited it to be the reason of his resignation. He felt that youth of his group were side-lined and not given suitable posts, though the group helped Congress to win 43 seats in state assembly elections.

6. After quitting Congress party, he initially announced that he won’t join BJP. His initial decision was to campaign for Thakor Sena candidates at Banaskantha Lok Sabha seat and Unja state assembly seat. However he changed his decision later.