A MMC workers removing the board of AAP Fatorda candidate Ranjit Cota Carvalho for want of permission. Santosh Mirajkar
A shocker for AAP: posters taken off power poles
Candidate Ranjit demands level-playing field for all candidates
THE GOAN NETWORK
MARGAO
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Fatorda candidate Ranjit Carvalho cried foul on Tuesday after the Margao Municipal Council removed all his election banners put up on electric poles in the constituency.
While a team of Margao Municipal Council led by market inspector, Anil Shirodkar removed almost all the boards of the AAP candidate in a day-long operation, Ranjit and party leader Wenzy condemned the municipal action. They accused the civic body of initiating the action just to favour the Independent candidate, Vijai Sardesai, since the MLA controls the affairs of the Margao Municipal Council.
Ranjit demanded a level-playing field for all candidates in the constituency, bitterly protesting against the decision of the civic body to target his election boards.
While Ranjit’s boards were removed by a group of hoodlums a previous time despite permission from the civic body, this time round, the MMC stepped in to clear the boards on grounds that the boards had no permission.
When The Goan contacted MMC Market Inspector Anil Shirodkar to shed light on the action initiated by the civic body against the AAP boards, he point blank replied that the boards had no permission from the civic body. “The candidate might have obtained permission from the electricity department to put up the boards, but the boards cannot be displayed without prior permission from the civic body," Shirodkar said.
What’s interesting to note is that Ranjit has claimed that the advertising agency had approached the MMC seeking permission after payment of the advertisement tax to display the boards on November 11, but in vain. “We would like to know why the MMC did not process our application for the boards after it was presented in the civic body on November 11. Does this not show the malafide intention behind denying me the permission," Ranjit said, while suspecting hanky-panky behind the entire episode.
When The Goan questioned the MMC Market Inspector Anil Shirodkar why the civic body did not grant permission to the agency to display Ranjit’s boards, he feigned ignorance of any such application. “I am unaware of such an application made by the AAP or the agency. It did not come to me at all," he said.
