MAPUSA
Chief Minister, Pramod Sawant on Sunday said the government was yet to take a call on whether to hold the municipal elections on party lines although discussions were going on within the party on the matter.
However, some ministers and party leaders were not in favour of holding the polls on the party symbol.
“Discussions are still going at various levels. No final decision has been taken on holding the civic elections on party lines or not,” Sawant said.
The chief minister was speaking to the media at the sidelines of a meeting of Calangute BJP karyakartas as part of the preparation for the 2022 assembly election.
Sawant sidestepped the question whether he personally preferred to hold the elections on party symbol but said an appropriate decision will be taken after holding discussions with ministers, MLAs and the senior party leaders.
He said the Director of Municipal Administration and the State Election Commission will decide when to hold the municipal elections in the State.
According to Ports Minister Michael Lobo the civic elections should not be held on party lines and instead the party should support individuals.
“This is a ward election and should not be held on party lines. We will give our view. It is for the CM and the party to decide,” Lobo said.
He said there are several party workers who have aspirations to contest the ward election and the party cannot afford to displease them.
“If from among 10 aspiring karyakartas of BJP, one is given the ticket then all other nine will contest. It's better the party supports a candidate,” he said.
The CM also dismissed the talks of holding an early assembly election in the State and said that assembly polls will be held on schedule in March 2022.
