The Goan Network
PANAJI
The Office of Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) has directed the South Goa Collector and District Electoral Officer (DEO) to explore the possibility of replacing the existing Booth Level Officers (BLOs) appointed in Mormugao from staff of other government departments instead of one single department.
The letter addressed by the deputy CEO to the South Goa Collector states that allegations were voiced by a representative of Goa Forward Party that an online application in Form-7 was filed in November 2020 in Mormugao as an objector in the name of a person who has expired on July 29, 2020.
“Also in view of the concern raised by the political parties regarding the parent offices of the BLOSs of 24-Mormugao, you are requested to explore the possibility of replacing these BLOs from staff of other government departments instead of one single department,” the letter reads.
Several complaints were reportedly raised by political parties during special Summary Revision of photo electoral rolls.
The office of CEO has sought an action taken report from the South Goa Collector in these regards within eight days.
INSET
Cong thanks GF for taking protest to logical end
THE GOAN NETWORK
VASCO
GPCC vice president Sankalp Amonkar said the Booth Level Officers (BLO) in Mormugao constituency are expected to be shuffled, after the Goa Forward Party (GFP) took the Congress agitation forward during an all-party meeting with the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) on Tuesday evening.
“We thank the GFP for supporting the issue with the CEO and taking it to the logical end, prompting the Dy CEO to issue an order directing district authorities to randomly change the majority of BLOs who are employed with the power department.”
"We had an all party meeting with the election commission and representatives of political parties. The highlight was that a dead person’s details were used to raise objections and seek deletion of voters," said Amonkar.
"We also showed that 22 of 29 BLOs are also employed with the power department and were employed while Urban Development Minister Milind Naik was power minister and hence, the BLOs were being used for his benefits.
“The CEO has now issued an order to reshuffle BLOs because in no constituency can the BLOs be from only one department," said Amonkar.
When contacted, GFP Vice President Durgadas Kamat said Dy CEO Sangeeta Naik had written to the South Collector in this regard.
“I had also given details and the death certificate of the dead person, whose name had surfaced as an objector in an online form 7 in November,” said Kamat.
