Santokhben’s son gets extern order, puts BJP govt in dock

Kandhal Jadeja, son of the late "Godmother" of Porbandar Santokhben Jadeja, has told the Gujarat High Court that the BJP-ruled state government wanted to extern him from four districts of Saurashtra since he did not agree to support the party in the upcoming Assembly elections.

Kandhal made these allegations recently while challenging a notice from the Porbandar district magistrate (DM) in the HC, which has stayed the proceedings and sought a reply from the Porbandar district administration on December 21, after the Assembly elections are over.

Kandhal, who was reportedly keen to contest the Assembly elections, was issued a notice by Porbandar DM earlier this month seeking to extern him from Porbandar, Junagadh, Rajkot and Jamnagar districts, citing his alleged criminal record since 1992.

Kandhal's lawyer Ashish Dagli said, "The notice cites various criminal cases registered against him (Kandhal) since 1992. However, all these are old cases. There is only one case registered against him in 2012 and proceedings in this case have been stayed by HC itself. So, why did the authorities issue a notice to extern him from the four districts when elections are approaching?"

Dagli said they had contended that elections were approaching and Kandhal might contest. Moreover, he wields influence over around 2 lakh voters of his community and others in the region, which can sway election results.

"We have also contended that the BJP government sought Kandhal's support in the elections but when he refused, he was issued this notice," Dagli added.

Kandhal is the eldest son of late Santokhben Jadeja and late Sarman Munja. Both Santokhben and Sarman were MLAs from Kutiyana in Porbandar district. Kandhal, whose wife Rekha Jadeja was shot dead in 2006, is reportedly keen to contest from the same constituency.

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