PANAJI
The 2022 elections had a greater number of parties and consequently more candidates including independent contestants. The exit poll spells out a hung Assembly which may open a floodgate of defections and horse-trading among the winners.
Pointing to these aspects, the Council for Social Justice and Peace in collaboration with NGOs and civil society groups on the eve of the declaration of results of the State Assembly Elections 2022 expressed concerns and apprehensions of the electorate and called for caution against defections by the elected representatives. Organisations like Goanchya Kul Mundkarancho Aavaz, Chicalim Youth Farmers’ Club, Jamaat e Islami Hind, CICH, BAMCEF, Goencho Ekvott and CSJP joined hands under one banner to caution the public not to be cheated after the election results.
Stating that the civil society expects from the new government to ensure a just and integral development of the whole State, inclusive of all constituencies, Fr Savio Fernandes of Council for Social Justice and Peace (CSJP) hoped that the new government would be open for better public scrutiny, would safeguard environment and provide livelihood opportunities to the citizens.
“Since the anti-defection law is big and has power, we must take this as a movement and highlight its importance to create a pressure on the elected candidates,” said Fr Fernandes while speaking to the media.
“The voters should remain united so that a unified strength is created. If after winning the elections, the candidates try to jump parties, the voters should go to their houses and gherao them,” said Ramakrishna Jalmi of Goanchya Kul Mundkarancho Aavaz.
“The people’s anguish is reflected in their votes and the elected persons and parties must respect the voters’ mandate. Whatever the mandate may be, it should not be touched,” said Jalmi, asking people to remain alert.
Asking why the elections should be in a phased manner, Janardan Tamhankar of BAMCEF alleged that EVMs could be manipulated. “The use of EVMs in India is a kind of conspiracy to keep mandate in one hand and one party,” stated Tamhankar and cautioned the people to revolt against the misdoings.
Assaf Hussain who represented Jamaat e Islami Hind asked the parties and their candidates to respect people’s mandate and not go for defections. He pointed out that after the 2017 State election, the mandate of the people was totally disrespected and there were defections.
Orville Dourado Rodrigues, founding member of Goencho Ekvott, and Capt Sydney D’Mello and Santan Pereira also expressed their solidarity with the cause.
