EC Transfers RO Accused of Rigging Polls in 2017 Gujarat Election

Dhaval Jani has been accused of helping Chudasama win the Dholka seat with the narrowest margin of just 327 votes.

Gujarat Education Minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama

(Photo Courtesy: Twitter@BhupendraSinh1)

Accused of helping Gujarat’s Education Minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama win the Dholka Assembly seat in the 2017 Gujarat Assembly Elections, the returning officer of Dholka, Dhaval Jani, was transferred on Sunday, 14 April, by the Election Commission of India.

Jani was the state revenue service officer or prant officer of Dholka taluka.

Jani has been accused of blatantly violating the counting procedure which helped Chudasama win the seat with the narrowest margin of just 327 votes. Chudasama’s victory was challenged by Congress candidate from Dholka, Ashwin Rathod.

The Gujarat High Court noticed glaring violations in its order issued on 2 April which included – avoiding reverification of and recounting of postal ballots, which is mandatory; counting EVM votes before counting postal ballot; unauthorised use of mobile phones in counting room among several others. Jani has admitted to violating all the above-mentioned rules.

The Gujarat government on Sunday replaced Jani with deputy DEO of Devbhumi Dwarka, RM Jalandhara as Dholka’s assistant returning officer. However, there was no mention about Jani’s next posting in the government’s order.

Speaking with Ahmedabad Mirror, Ashwin Rathod said that he had written to the election body before the declaration of the general elections for the removal of Jani from the post. “I am glad that the Election Commission took the right decision, he said.

Meanwhile, Bhupendrasinh Chudasama had approached the Supreme Court last year to quash the matter, but his plea was rejected.