MARGAO
Saying the Election Commission of India has scheduled the Goa Assembly election on Valentine’s Day, Goa Forward chief Vijai Sardesai has said he doesn’t think the ECI has fixed the polls on Valentine’s Day for the love of Goa when the report from the Health department speaks of the Covid cases will touch its peak in mid-February around the time when the state goes to the polls.
Sardesai, however, made it clear that he is not demanding the postponement of the Goa election, but only want to tell that the election is being held in a pandemic and is being shown that it will be authentic.
“Valentine’s day signifies love. It is a day of love. The ECI has chosen to hold the election on that day. I don’t think they have done this for the love of Goa as reports indicate Covid will reach its peak in mid-February”, he told the media moments after the ECI unveiled the election schedule.
He added: “In this scenario, how can we expect the participation of the people in the election process and ensure their safety and security when people with double vaccination dose are also getting COVID”.’
Saying the ECI was right in saying Goa has the highest positivity rates amongst the states going to the polls, Sardesai said the positivity rate was not just because of the New Year parties as was made out to be by the ECI, but because of the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who allowed Sunburn festival and got the virus imported into the state.
Saying that elections for the Goa Assembly could have gone to the last phase in March in view of the mounting number of cases, the Goa Forward Chief charged the Health department for not properly briefing the election officials on the Covid front, adding “the main issue in Goa is that the ECI is not interested in the health and security of Goans”
Referring to the restrictions mulled by the ECI, Sardesai said the restrictions are all in favour of those in power.
“The IAS lobby will be with the powers that be. We have seen this during the ZP polls. I am not demanding postponement of the election, but I was expecting more confidence-building measures”, he said.
