Submit list of witnesses in a week, Gujarat High Court directs education minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama

The Gujarat High Court on Wednesday accepted the plea by education minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama and allowed him a week's time to submit the list of witnesses that he wants to be considered by the court while adjudicating on an election petition challenging his poll victory. Notably, the petition has been filed by Congress's Ashwin Rathod contending that Chudasama had won the Assembly elections held in 2017 from Dholka constituency by a thin margin of 327 votes by adopting unfair means.

The court had already framed the issues based on which the case would be adjudicated and had directed both the parties to submit a list of witnesses for the trial to begin. While Rathod had already submitted the list of witnesses, Chudasama sought time, which was granted. The court has now adjourned the matter till January 16.

So far Chudasama has tried hard to stall the trial by filling an application in the high court, which was rejected, against which he moved the Supreme Court. The apex court also refused to provide any relief to the education minister and directed him to face the trial pending in High Court.

However, Rathod had contended that the election officer Dhavan Jani was posted after the election code of conduct was implemented to help Chudasama in winning the Assembly seat. He had submitted that the minister won the election after Jani rejected 429 votes received through postal ballots, a number greater than the winning margin.