Jamnagar: With Jamnagar Municipal Corporation elections approaching, Ward No. 12 long considered the city’s most sensitive constituency has once again landed at the centre of political controversy. Banners calling for a “Congress boycott,” featuring photographs of Patni Jamaat office-bearers, have appeared outside Kalavad Naka, sharply raising political tensions in the area.
Shifting Equations and Boycott Banners
Congress had won Ward No. 12 in the 2021 elections, but internal conflict and indiscipline have since fractured the party’s standing there. Suspended Congress members Aslam Khilji and Fabidaben Juneja, along with Jainabbhen Khafi who resigned from the party, have joined the Aam Aadmi Party turning the contest into a three-way fight. With the Patni Jamaat now openly declaring opposition to Congress, the party faces a steep uphill climb in the ward.
Altaf Khafi’s Absence: Suspense Remains
Congress has announced a three-member panel for the ward, but the exclusion of former corporator Altaf Khafi currently lodged in jail has triggered widespread speculation. While there had been talk of Khafi contesting from behind bars, his bail was rejected by the court, and with the party declining to name him, his exclusion appears confirmed.
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A Ward Shadowed by Violence and Crime
The Aslam Khilji gang carries approximately 21 registered cases, including attempted murder, extortion, land grabbing, and Arms Act violations. Incidents of assault and firing in the area have led to serious charges under GUJSITOC (Gujarat Control of Organised Crime), creating an environment where ordinary citizens and educated candidates are reportedly reluctant to contest. BJP is struggling to find candidates willing to stand from the ward, while AAP banking on the combined influence of the Khilji and Khafi families is gearing up for an aggressive campaign.
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