Vehicle financed under PMMSY used for poll purposes
VASCO
In a strict enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), the Returning Officer for the Sancoale and Cortalim ZP constituencies has ordered the detention of a government-assisted vehicle allegedly used for electioneering purposes.
The Returning Officer has passed a final order after concluding that its use for electioneering amounted to a violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).
As per the final order dated December 18, issued by Returning Officer Sanket S Sakhardande, the vehicle (GA-06-T-8466), financed under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), was found to be a government-funded asset and therefore impermissible for use in poll-related activities.
The vehicle had earlier been granted temporary permission on December 13 for election purposes in favour of Sandra Rodrigues, candidate from the Cortalim ZP constituency. However, the permission was cancelled on December 17 following a prima facie finding of misuse.
The order notes that the Department of Fisheries confirmed via email that subsidy for the vehicle was granted in 2024-25 under PMMSY to Rudika Asylina Antao of Velsao, Sancoale, establishing that the asset was created using public funds.
The Returning Officer noted that clause of the Model Code of Conduct explicitly prohibits the use of government-owned or government-funded vehicles and assets for election work by candidates. The use of the said vehicle for poll-related activities was therefore held to be impermissible.
Considering the urgency to prevent further violations, the vehicle has been ordered to be detained with immediate effect until completion of all election-related activities.
The Police Inspector of Verna Police Station has been directed to take custody of the vehicle forthwith and ensure it is not used for any election-related purpose during the poll process. The police have also been instructed to submit a compliance report after executing the order.
The candidate concerned, Sandra Rodrigues, has been warned to strictly adhere to the MCC, while the show-cause notice issued earlier in the matter has been disposed of.
