Ahmedabad: Senior Congress leader and party’s treasurer Ahmed Patel today submitted list of witnesses and some other documents in Gujarat High Court here which will on January 28 hear the election petition challenging his victory in the Rajya Sabha election in August 2017 by the losing candidate of BJP’s Balwantsinh Rajput.

The list contained more than 40 witnesses.

The court of Justice Bela Trivedi had earlier on January 11 framed half a dozen issues under various sections of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 for the case which was being heard afresh by Gujarat high Court on the instructions of the apex court which had rejected the plea of Patel that demanded quashing of the election petition.

The issues also included whether Patel or his election agent committed an act of “bribery” and “undue influence” and thereby indulged in “corrupt practices” as alleged by Rajput, making the election “liable to be declared as void”, whether two “invalid votes” cast by Congress MLAs Shailesh Parmar and Miteshbhai Garasia, and “improper refusal or rejection” of votes cast by rebel Congress MLAs Bholabhai Gohil and Raghvjibhai Patel materially affected the outcome of the election.

Notably, Patel along with BJP’s Amit Shah and Smriti Irani had emerged victorious in the election for 3 Rajyasabha seats from Gujarat. Amid high voltage drama like counting which went well past mid night and saw both congress and BJP knocking the doors of ECI, two votes cast by Rajput loyal Gohil and Raghavji were rejected.

Rajput challenged the result and victory of Ahmed Patel who had in a counter sought the quashing of this petition but Gujarat high court rejected his plea. He then approached the apex court but could not get any relief.

The Supreme Court had asked Ahmed Patel to face trial.

DeshGujarat