MAPUSA
Challenging the 2017 assembly election process in Goa, two Mapusa-based petitioners have sought the election of all 40 MLAs as null and void.
The Election Commission of India, which has also been made a party in the case, has, however, raised objection over the maintainability of an election petition, which came up before the High Court on Friday. The petitioners, Adv Gautam Pednekar and Adv Rameshwari Morajkar, challenged the election on the grounds of dispute over delimitation, reservation and the expenditure in the elections.
According to Adv Gautam Pednekar, the delimitation of the assembly constituencies was done in total contravention of the order of Delimitation Commission of India and the principles of Constitution of India. Trashing the petition, Calangute MLA Michael Lobo said the petition had no meaning and will not stand in the eyes of law.
"It's a petition which has no meaning. It is baseless. I don't see any violation of law," Lobo said.
He further said the petitioners were challenging the process of delimitation done by the Election Commission in 2012.
"The delimitation was carried out by the EC. The election process was also conducted by the EC and the final results were declared by it. What is our role in it," Lobo argued.
One of the petitioners, Adv Rameshwari Morajkar was a candidate from Mapusa constituency in 2017 assembly polls.
