The Gujarat High Court on Wednesday disposed a petition filed by Congress councillor from Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation (GMC) Shailendrasinh Bihola seeking disqualification of BJP leader and former mayor Pravin Patel on the ground that he defected from Congress to BJP just to become the mayor. The court disposed the petition on the ground that since Pravin Patel has already resigned from his position as mayor and councillor, the question on his disqualification does not arise.
With a division bench of the high court disposing the plea seeking Pravin Patel's disqualification, Bihola's counsel said the order indirectly nullifies the order by a single judge bench of the court directing authorities not to declare the results of the election held in November last year and place the vote of Pravin Patel in a sealed envelope before it.
Following the court's order, BJP's mayoral candidate Rita Patel is likely to assume the charge of mayor of GMC on Thursday. Rita Patel's husband and BJP leader Ketan Patel told DNA that they are waiting for the copy of the order and once it is available, Rita will take charge. He said BJP got 17 votes as against Congress's 14 in the election, with a Congress councillor remaining absent on the voting day.
Meanwhile, two other petitions related to the controversial GMC elections are going to be heard by the division bench of Justice SR Brahmbhatt and Justice VB Mayani on Thursday. One of the petitions is filed by Bihola and Congress's mayoral candidate Pinki Patel challenging the election proceedings and the alleged gross violation of norms by the then Gandhinagar collector, who acted as the returning officer. Pinki also demanded a re-election. The second petition was filed by Congress councillor Ankit Barot, who alleged that he was abducted on the day of election by BJP leaders and was released only after the election proceedings were over.
Notably, elections were held in early November last year for deciding the mayor and deputy mayor of GMC, but ended up in a major controversy with a Congress councillor getting abducted and violence during the election proceedings.