Not my idea to shift Guj Cong MLAs to Bengaluru: Patel to HC


PTI, Jun 25, 2019, 8:11 AM IST

Ahmedabad: Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel Monday told the Gujarat High Court that it was the state party unit’s decision, and not his, to shift 44 of its MLAs to a Bengaluru resort ahead of the 2017 Rajya Sabha polls in Gujarat.

Patel was cross-examined for the third day by the lawyer of BJP leader Balwantsinh Rajput, who has challenged Patel’s election to the Upper House of Parliament.

The cross-examination will continue on Tuesday before Justice Bela Trivedi.

Additional Solicitor General Satya Pal Jain, who is appearing for Rajput in his personal capacity, posed several questions to Patel regarding Congress MLAs being moved to the resort on the night of July 29, 2017, to thwart a possible “poaching” attempt by the BJP ahead of the August 8 polls.

Denying his role, Patel claimed he was not aware of the MLAs being shifted and learnt about it the next day when he read the newspapers.

He said it was the Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee’s (GPCC) decision and not his.

Patel told the court that when he learnt about the shifting of the MLAs, he even told the then GPCC chief Bharatsinh Solanki that it was “not needed”.

The Congress leader said the GPCC took the decision fearing that the BJP may engage in “horse-trading”.

When Jain showed him some photographs and asked him whether he had gone to meet these MLAs at the airport upon their return, Patel said he did not remember.

Justice Trivedi then asked Patel to “answer properly” and said it was “not believable” that he did not remember.

After their arrival here on August 7, the Congress MLAs were taken to another resort in Anand where they stayed till morning next day, Jain told the court.

Patel also denied Jain’s charge that he was behind these arrangements, adding that the expenses of keeping the MLAs in the resorts were borne by the GPCC.

“The BJP and Rajput used undue influence and pressure, and also indulged in bribing, which resulted in the resignation of six MLAs ahead of the polls and cross-voting by eight Congress MLAs,” Patel said.

Rajput had filed the petition after he lost to Patel in the keenly-contested Rajya Sabha election in the state.

Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.

Top News

Manipal: Senior Doctor Dr. Asha Bhat passes away 

Belagavi dons festive look to host centenary Congress session

India’s Martina Devi clinches silver at Asian Junior Weightlifting Championships

U’khand: 3 killed, 24 injured as bus falls into gorge in Bhimtal

Man tries to immolate self near parliament, taken to hospital

SC restrains ED from accessing seized electronic devices of ‘lottery king’ Santiago Martin

16-year-old girl gang-raped in UP’s Ballia, both accused arrested

Related Articles More

One dead, 20 rescued after tourist boat capsizes off Calangute beach in Goa

Anna University girl student ‘sexually assaulted’, Biryani seller held

Man hacked to death for opposing drug abuse in Kerala

Three fake policemen arrested for extorting money through honey trap in Delhi

U’khand: 3 killed, 24 injured as bus falls into gorge in Bhimtal

MUST WATCH

Tulunadu Daivaradane

Feeding Birds with Creative Paddy Art!

Areca Nut

HOTEL SRI DURGA BHAVANA

Harish Poonja


Latest Additions

Manipal: Senior Doctor Dr. Asha Bhat passes away 

Belagavi dons festive look to host centenary Congress session

One dead, 20 rescued after tourist boat capsizes off Calangute beach in Goa

Couple dies in fatal accident near Sampaje

Kodagu: Man seriously Injured in tiger attack

Thanks for visiting Udayavani

You seem to have an Ad Blocker on.
To continue reading, please turn it off or whitelist Udayavani.