CANACONA
Questions are being raised over the reservations of wards for elections to panchayats in Canacona, with several persons alleging political interference to ensure certain candidates are deliberately being kept out of the polls.
Some aspiring candidates have complained that the rotation policy was not followed properly in relation to previous reservations.
They claimed that certain wards which were due for women reservation as per the rotation policy in seven-member and nine-member panchayats were not reserved at all, while some wards were again reserved just after two terms.
On the other hand, some wards in the seven-member panchayats were kept open and unreserved for the fourth time in a row, they added.
At Agonda, for instance, in the previous reservation list, Ward 3 was reserved for ST, while Ward 1, 2 and 6 were reserved for women, leaving Wards 4, 5 and 7 for general candidates.
There are allegations that Ward 5 which was due for reservation has been kept unreserved for the fourth time in a row.
In the new list, Ward 3, which has a sizeable ST community, has now been changed and reserved for OBC candidates, along with Ward 6 (double reserved for women), while Ward 7, which according to sources, has no ST representation, is now reserved as an ST seat.
“Reservations of wards as far as Agonda Panchayat is concerned are done only to keep me and my family away from the panchayat,” complained outgoing sarpanch Badal Naikgaunkar.
Sources further pointed out that after assembly elections, Naikgaunkar, who also had his younger brother as panch and his mother as former sarpanch of the village, had openly canvassed for former BJP MLA Isidore Fernandes in expressing his desire that family members would contest in not less than four wards.
But with the ward reservations, Badal Naikgaunkar’s Ward 7 is now reserved for ST, while his brother and outgoing panch Barsat Naikgaunkar’s Ward 5 is double reserved for OBC women.
However, Naikgaunkar was unperturbed and said his 7-member panel would not only contest from Ward 5, but would form the next panchayat.
Dissent is also brewing in Loliem-Polem, Poinguinim and Shrishthal panchayats, with allegations that OBC, ST and Women reservations have been made to keep away certain candidates affiliated with former Canacona MLAs.
Several outgoing sarpanchas and panchas have found themselves as they have not supported politicians in power.
“Whether we get elected to the panchayats or not, our services will be always with the people not only from our village but elsewhere as well,” said outgoing Loliem-Polem sarpanch Sachin Naik, who informed that despite political inference, his ward was still open for him.
“But wards of our former sarpanchas including Ajay Lolienkar and Nishant Prabhudessai are put in the reserved category. But we are sure to get at least one of them back in the panchayat, as people need them,” said Naik.
In Cotigao, former sarpanch Rajesh Gaonkar’s seat is reserved for women, while outgoing sarpanch Daya Gaonkar is hoping to get elected safely.
“We will continue to provide services for the benefit of the people, despite hurdles on our political journey,” said Daya Gaonkar.
