In fact, Mehta's unexpected nomination paper had earlier sparked off a major row in the party prompting the AICC to conduct a probe into the circumstances under which a section of Congress legislators signed it.

The legislators on their part submitted to the party hierarchy that a senior party leader had obtained their signatures on a blank nomination paper, which was subsequently handed over to Mehta. Later, Pradesh Congress Committee president Ranjeet Deshmukh resigned from the post to accept moral responsibility for the defeat of the official nominee for the Rajya Sabha elections.

However, now Mehta in his affidavit has denied that the ten Congress legislators signed the blank nomination paper, which were given to him. Mehta, once a closeaide of senior Congress leader Sharad Pawar, claimed that all the ten legislators were fully that it was his nomination paper that they were signing. ``The said Congress legislators, after signing it, handed over the same to leader of opposition Madhukar Pichad. who in turn submitted the documents to Ranjeet Deshmukh. It was Ranjeet Deshmukh, who gave me the nomination paper,'' Mehta claimed.

Mehta also clarified that none of the said Congress legislators have lodged a complaint to any competent authority or the Election Commission that their signatures on the nomination papers have been misused.

Mehta's election to the State Legislative Council has been challenged by senior Shiv Sena leader Kanhaiyyalal Gidwani on the ground that he had blatantly violated the provisions of the Representation of People's Act.

Gidwani has urged the court to set aside Mehta's election as he had obtained the signatures on a blank nomination paper, which was highly unethical and improper.

On all the major allegations ofGidwani, including the submission of the Congress legislators that their signatures were obtained on a blank nomination paper, or the statement of Sharad Pawar in defence of the ten legislators or the warning given by Sonia Gandhi to them and the statement of AICC general secretary Madhavrao Scindia, asking them to show cause as to why disciplinary action should not be taken against them, Mehta has made an identical submission. Mehta has asked Gidwani to give a proof of these statements.

On the copy of notice given by Scindia to the legislators and the subsequent reply given by them, Mehta stated that these were not genuine documents. ``The allegations, submissions and averments made by Gidwani are without any basis and the same are an exercise in conjecture and imagination,'' Mehta added.

Further, Mehta has urged the court to dismiss the election petition filed by Gidwani since it has been barred by limitation as it has not been filed within 45 days of declaration of the results.

Along with Mehta, allthe others elected with him, including Council chairman N S Pharande and Transport Minister Diwakar Raote have been made respondent to the petition.