THE GOAN NETWORK
MAPUSA
Political analyst and TMC leader, Trajano D’Mello on Wednesday questioned both the State government and the Opposition over the delay in holding municipal elections, alleging that the government’s decision to impose administrative rule in 11 municipalities was aimed at postponing elections and avoiding facing the people.
Addressing a press conference in Mapusa, D’Mello, who had intervened in the High Court petition concerning the municipal elections, welcomed the court’s decision to lay down a time-bound schedule, with elections to be completed by January 4, 2027.
D’Mello said his intervention was prompted by an earlier petition seeking to quash the government ordinance. He said he believed the ordinance could not simply be struck down as the legislature had the power to enact laws. Instead, his stand was that the ordinance should not be allowed to hold the elections “to ransom” by failing to specify when they would be conducted.
“The ordinance was silent on the date of elections. They could have held the elections even after two years. Who would question it?” he asked.
He alleged that the government’s intention was to postpone the civic polls because it was “scared of facing the people of Goa”. He also criticised the Opposition, particularly the Congress, for remaining silent while 11 municipalities were placed under government-appointed administrators.
“Were they hand in gloves with the government? People should think about the role of the Opposition,” D’Mello said, questioning whether the developments amounted to “politics”.
Referring to the Ponda by-election case, D’Mello said he had intervened when the election was challenged and claimed that the Congress, despite being the main contestant, had been slow to intervene. He argued that a more active intervention by the Opposition could have influenced the outcome of the case.
D’Mello also pointed to the High Court’s observation that the State government should not issue, and the State Election Commission should not entertain, any request that could have the effect of postponing the timetable fixed by the court. Any grievance, he said, would have to be brought before the High Court through an affidavit.
Calling the ruling a “slap on the face” of the government, D’Mello said he did not expect the Supreme Court to grant any relief if the government challenged the order.
“Stay on what – to stop people from voting?” he asked.
D’Mello said he was “more than happy” with the High Court verdict as his primary demand had been for time-bound municipal elections. He alleged that while people were fed up with the government, the Opposition was failing to effectively take up their concerns. “What is happening in the Assembly is only ‘natak’ (drama). Everyone thinks he is a hero,” he said.
