Ahmedabad: The Election Commission on Wednesday turned down Bharatiya Janata Party's application seeking to disqualify Keshubhai Patel-led Gujarat Parivartan Party. In its application the BJP had asked the EC to disallow Keshubhai's party from contesting the Gujarat Assembly elections, which are being held in December.
Keshubhai Patel, a former chief minister of Gujarat, split from the BJP in July 2012 to form his own outfit. The Gujarat Parivartan Party had on Tuesday accused the BJP of "pressurising" Returning Officers in the poll-bound state while terming as baseless the allegations levelled by the ruling party that the Keshubhai Patel-led party has flouted Election Commission norms.
"BJP was trying to pressurise Returning Officers (ROs) appointed by the EC after the model code of conduct came into force. ROs are being pressurised to reject nomination papers of GPP candidates," alleged party senior vice-president Suresh Mehta.
Mehta made the statement in reaction to the complaint filed by BJP with the Election Commission on Monday alleging that GPP candidates have "violated" the EC instructions and not be allowed to fight the polls using bat as poll symbol.
Terming as "condemnable" the allegations levelled by BJP, Mehta said, "BJP is frustrated as GPP is firming up its position in Saurashtra region". "Firstly, the BJP contended that GPP would not get registration and then raised an issue regarding its symbol. Now that GPP has got the symbol, BJP is spreading its frustration through media by levelling allegations," he said.
Mehta said the GPP has appealed to EC to ensure free and fair conduct of polls to be held in two phases on December 13 and 17. The counting of the votes is on December 20.
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