MAPUSA
The Nationalist Congress Party on Wednesday requested the government to declare the date for municipal elections and ward reservations well in advance and to facilitate the supply of the electoral roll at least two months before the poll date.
The NCP also censured the Mapusa councillors for failing to deliver on promises made to the residents in the last five years.
“Release the election roll at least two months before the poll date and also declare the ward reservations at the earliest,” Barde said in a letter to the Director of Municipal Administration.
The NCP general secretary was addressing a news conference along with other office bearers in Mapusa.
Speaking further, Barde said the BJP-led government was known to delay and announce the election at the last minute giving little chance to the opposition.
He further said that ward reservations were also done in such a way that it would benefit the candidates of the BJP panel.
“The reservations of the wards are also announced at the last minute giving no scope for the citizens and the opposition to take legal recourse,” Barde said.
He also urged the election authorities to avoid printing serial numbers on ballot papers for the civic elections.
“The serial numbers can be printed on the counter file but not on the ballot papers as the candidates can identify whom the voter has voted for,” he said.
He said it was the responsibility of the government to conduct the elections in a fair manner.
Barde further said that the Mapusa Municipal Council, the term of which ended on November 4, failed to do any works in Mapusa.
He questioned the Rs 90 crore works done in Mapusa as projected by Ryan Braganza, former Chairperson of MMC.
“The beautification of Gandhi Chowk and the installation of the Shivaji statue at the entrance of Mapusa were done by some private entities. The football ground in the Housing Board was done through the GSUDA funds. Many other works have been done through various agencies. So how can the MMC take credit for these works?” Barde asked.
He said the council has also failed to provide a basic necessity such as good motorable roads in Mapusa.
