The ruling BJP has given mandate for another term to tainted minister of state for Fisheries Parshottam Solanki facing allegations in an alleged Rs 400 crore fishing contract allocation scam. Solanki is currently recuperating from an injury he received early this month after falling from the stairs at his home in Bhavnagar.
The three time MLA's name was included in the first list of 84 candidates announced by the Gujarat BJP for the first phase of assembly polls to be held on December 13, 2012. He would be contesting from the Bhavnagar Rural seat and is pitched against Shaktisinh Gohil, leader of the Congress legislative party.
The Gujarat High Court in September had upheld Gujarat governor's decision giving sanction for prosecution of Solanki in connection with an alleged Rs 400 crore fishing contract allocation scam. This had paved way for legal action against Solanki, a representative of the powerful Koli community in Saurashtra and a close aide of Chief Minister Narendra Modi. A magisterial inquiry into the allegations against Solanki was also on based on complaint by one Ishaq Maradia.
In July this year, Gujarat Governor Dr Kamla Beniwal, had sanctioned prosecution of Solanki for his alleged role in the scam. She had decided against the advice of the state's council of ministers (CoM) who had decided not to give sanction for prosecution of their colleague. Based on the Governor's sanction, the High Court had asked the state government to act accordingly and initiate formal investigation against the minister.
An aggrieved Solanki had then challenged the Governor's decision in the High Court in August on the ground that Governor has no discretion or authority in the subject matter to pass the impugned order as per the provisions of Constitution of India. He had further claimed that allegations against him was politically motivated as he was a reputed leader of his community and an MLA. The appeal was dismissed.
