State Education Minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama has submitted to the Gujarat High Court that he has neither adopted any corrupt practice nor tried to influence the election machinery and returning officer Dhaval Jani to win the Assembly election from Dholka.
The submission was made through an affidavit filed by him on Friday in-lieu of his examination-in-chief as a witness in the election petition filed by rival Congress candidate Ashwin Rathod against his poll victory. Notably, the court allowed Chudasama's application to depose as a witness in the case before any of his witnesses are examined before the court.
The minister has pointed out that Rathod had leveled serious allegations against him of influencing the election machinery to win the Assembly poll, but has failed to substantiate these claims or submit any evidence to drive home his arguments so far.