Gujrat Kshatriya Thakor Sena (GKTS) chief, Alpesh Thakor, is facing a revolt, with many members leaving the GKTS, complaining about his “autocratic” ways. A senior member of the GKTS said that at least seven members of the outfit’s core committee have quit. His former aide and GKTS vice-president, Ramesh Thakor, has formed ‘Royal Kshatriya Thakor Sena’ and held a massive rally in Gandhinagar on Sunday in a show of strength.

“Those who have quit include GKTS strategist Pravinsinh Thakor; Patan district chief of the sena, Jibhaji Thakor; the sena’s Surat district president, Daduji Thakor; former president of the sena’s Ahmedabad district , Kevalji Thakor; and cultural cell chief, Shankarsinh Thakor,” said a Thakor Sena member.

Ramesh Thakor, a former member of the Bavla municipality and Congress leader who had formed the GKTS in 2011 with Alpesh, told TOI, “Alpesh never consulted any community leader before plunging into electoral politics.” He went on to say: “We did not want him to misuse the community’s support and asked him to focus on social work. But he struck a deal with Rahul Gandhi and got an assembly ticket.”