Leader of Opposition deposes before Gujarat High Court in Ahmed Patel's Rajya Sabha poll case

Leader of opposition in the state legislative assembly Paresh Dhanani on Monday deposed before the Gujarat High Court in connection with the election petition filed by BJP's Balvantsinh Rajput challenging the Rajya Sabha poll victory of Congress veteran Ahmed Patel. He was cross-examined by assistant solicitor general Devang Vyas, who appeared as a counsel for Rajput.

During the three hour cross-examination, Dhanani was rebuked by the court for not answering the simple questions raised by Vyas and was warned for trying to waste the court's time with his explanation. Dhanani refuted before the court that he was given ticket for assembly elections and was made the leader of opposition because he helped Ahmed Patel in winning the election. He also said he was aware of the whip issued by the party warning MLAs of suspension for six years if they do not vote for the candidate decided by the party for the Rajya Sabha elections. He, however, clarified that he had not read or seen the whip, but was aware of the same as it was informed by top party leaders in the July 25, 2017, meeting of Gujarat Congress MLAs.

Dhanani also submitted that when he got to know that Congress MLA Bhola Gohil is likely to cross vote, he had messaged him to return to Congress. The Leader of Opposition was also questioned about Bengaluru trip of Congress MLAs just before Rajya Sabha elections in August, 2017, and the answers given by him were at a variance with those by Ahmed Patel.

Dhanani Rebuked 

Dhanani was rebuked by the court for not answering the simple questions raised by Vyas and was warned for trying to waste the court’s time with his explanation