Geniben Thakor, Who Crowdfunded Her Campaign, Helps Congress Make Breakthrough in Gujarat

Congress candidate Geniben Nagaji Thakor, hailed as 'giant slayer' won against BJP's Rekhaben Hiteshbhai Chaudhari in Banaskantha with a majority of over 30,000 votes. BJP had won Banaskantha in 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha Elections.

Thakor, who contested her first Lok Sabha polls, successfully crowdfunded her campaign after Congress said it wasn't in a position to financially back its nominees. She gave Congress its first Lok Sabha Seat in a decade. BJP swept all the 26 seats in Gujarat in 2014 and 2019.

Geniben Nagaji Thakor, who joined Congress as a grassroots worker, made her electoral debut in 2012. She contested the Gujarat Assembly Elections from Vav constituency where she faced defeat.

After five years, Thakor was successful in defeating BJP strongman Shakar Chaudhary from Vav constituency in 2017 assembly elections and in 2022, when BJP almost swept the State, she successfully retained her seat.