THE GOAN NETWORK
CANACONA
The elections may have taken place on February 14, but the war over ballots is far from over in Canacona, with the Congress accusing the BJP of intimidating government staff to vote in their favour.
Addressing a news conference in Canacona, Congress candidate Janardhan Bhandari alleged that government staff are continuously under pressure to vote for the Canacona BJP candidate Ramesh Tawadkar.
“I request those government staff in Canacona yet to cast their ballots to vote consciously and without any fear of anyone. Don't fall prey to pressure tactics of BJP, but to vote for their preferred candidate,” said Bhandari.
Congress alliance partner’s Goa Forward Party leader Vikas Bhagat said there are about 840 government staff in Canacona who are being pressurised by BJP supporters to vote for the BJP or face transfers.
“If somebody approaches you and threatens you, please inform us and we will try to give justice to you. We have recordings where BJP supporters are threatening action if votes are not cast in favour of BJP. Congress sympathisers are unnecessarily being approached and threatened if they do not vote in favour of BJP,” said Bhagat.
Congress leaders further complained that police forces are also being used to put pressure on other government servants to vote for the BJP, while government officials are also allegedly intimidating their staff to vote in BJP’s favour.
“We will expose the officers, officials and also those BJP supporters who force government staff to vote for a particular candidate,” said Bhandari.
Canacona Congress Block President Prahlay Bhagat, Canacona Youth Congress President Vaishnav Pednekar, Mahila Congress Committee President Ursila Costa and Congress spokesperson Pallavi Bhagat were also present at the news conference.
