Amid reports of a divide in the AIMIM’s Gujarat unit over fielding of candidates from Muslim-dominated constituencies, the party on Tuesday announced its candidate to contest the Godhra seat in the upcoming Gujarat Assembly elections.
AIMIM Gujarat chief Sabir Kabliwala took to his official Twitter handle and confirmed that the party has decided to go with Mufti Hasan Kachba or Hanif Haji Kalandar for the Godhra constituency.
“I am pleased to announce that All India Majlis-e- Ittehadul Muslimeen party’s candidate will be Mufti hasan kachba or Hanif Haji Kalandar for 126 GODHARA Constituency,” he tweeted.
Meanwhile, AIMIM leaders in the poll-bound state have urged the party’s state and national leadership not to contest all the Muslim-dominated seats in Gujarat, which goes to the polls in two phases on December 1 and 5.
They fear that the party is weak in some constituencies, and if the AIMIM fields candidates in those seats, chances of losing will increase. So in the interest of the party, AIMIM should focus on limited seats.
AIMIM leader and Godhra Nagar Palika councillor Faisal Sujela has requested in a letter addressed to the party’s state unit chief not to field candidate in the Godhra seat.
His said, “Party members in Godhra feel that chances of winning are less, and fielding a candidate can help the political opponents. Instead, the party should concentrate on strengthening the organisation for the 2027 elections. If the request is not heard, I fear the party will split in Godhra.”
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has already renominated Godhra MLA CK Raulji, who had courted controversy by saying that convicts in the Bilkis Bano rape case who were released were Brahmins and had good ‘sanskar’.
