MARGAO
Representatives of the Congress and Goa Forward have challenged the wards reservation finalised by the Department of Urban Development, with the two parties challenging the basis on which the government had notified the reservation in respect of the Margao Municipal Council.
While Goa Forward Fatorda Block President Sujay Lotlikar has filed the petition on behalf of the party, Congress leaders, Damu Shirodkar and Doris Texeira has petitioned before the High Court, questioning the rationale behind the reservations.
The Goa Forward petitioner has drawn attention of the High Court to the failure to reserve 33 per cent wards for women under the Constitution. Lotlikar further questioned the rationale behind reserving all the three wards, Ward No. 23, 24 and 25 falling in the Curtorim area of the Margao Municipal Council for women, bringing to the fore the question relating to the failure to adhere to the rotation system.
The petition has further questioned the reservation of Ward No. 4 and 6 of the MMC for ST, given that these two wards were reserved for the ST in the 2015 Municipal polls.
“It is clear that the government did not follow the rotation system nor has it taken into account the 33 per cent reservation of seats for the women,” Goa Forward chief Vijai Sardesai said. He said the Goa Forward has also challenged the reservation of wards in respect of the Sanguem Municipal Council.
Meanwhile, in a separate petition, local Margao Congress leaders have in their petition pointed out that the government has reserved certain wards without any basis and merit.
Petitioner Damu Shirodkar said he has also questioned the logic behind reserving Ward No. 18 for OBC when there’s any hardly OBC population inhabiting the ward. It is pertinent to note here that Yogiraj, son of Leader of the Opposition and Margao MLA, Digambar Kamat was widely expected to contest from Ward No. 18 before it was reserved for OBC.
“The government has not reserved the seats as per the rotation system. It is evident that the wards have been reserved as per the whims and fancies of the powers that be,” Shirodkar said, exuding confidence that the Judiciary will do justice to the petitioners.
