the goan I network
MARGAO
District Electoral Officer and Returning Officer for the South Goa Lok Sabha constituency Ajit Roy on Saturday cautioned Congress candidate for the Shiroda bypoll to take precautionary measures over his son’s wedding, making it clear that the wedding will be under the close watch of the election authorities, including the flying squads and the wedding expenses will be included in his election expenses.
Mahadev, however, asserted there will be no change in the marriage schedule, but maintained that the family members of the bride and bride groom will sit and discuss over the expenses part.
The Congress candidate appeared before the District Electoral Officer Ajit Roy in the South district Collectorate at 12.30 pm after he was called to answer a host of questions over his son’s marriage three days ahead of the April 23 bypoll for Shiroda Assembly seat and the South Goa Lok Sabha constituency.
The District Electoral Officer told the Goan that Mahadev was called to his office just to explain to him the election rules concerning expenditure and how any violation of the model code of conduct will land him in trouble. “The Congress candidate was instructed in clear terms how he can be hauled up for violation of the model code of conduct over his son’s wedding,” the Returning Officer said, adding that Mahadev has been told that his son’s marriage will be under close watch by the election authorities,.
“Definitely, Mahadev’s son’s wedding will be under the scanner of the election”, Roy replied when asked whether the wedding will be under the close watch of the authorities.
Mahadev was called to the office of the District Electoral officer after he was earlier told unofficially to explore the possibility of postponing son’s wedding.
After coming out of the meeting with the Returning Officer, Mahadev told The Goan there’s no question of postponing son’s marriage. “Whatever religious ceremony that has been planned will go on without any changes. My son’s marriage will take place as scheduled,” he asserted.
At the same time, Mahadev pointed out that the family will sit and discuss to ensure that the wedding ceremony passes off without any problem. “I know there will be people who will try to create problems for me by lodging false complaints. The complaints must have already been made to the election officials and many more will come in the next few days,” he said.
He, however hastened to add that he will not give an occasion for his opponents to take advantage of the situation by lodging false complaints. “Certainly, the wedding ceremony will take place as scheduled. There will no change in the dates. Our families will sit and discuss on the expenses modalities,” he added.
Officials in the know said that Mahadev is hesitant in postponing son’s wedding since his daughter and son-in-law are due to arrive from the USA for the auspicious occasion. While the election authorities had advised him to postpone the reception part, the Congress candidate has maintained that his daughter and son-in-law have already booked the flight tickets to Goa from the USA.
“Mahadev has the option of performing the religious ceremony and host the reception after the election. It is purely for the Congress candidate to take a call,” remarked an election official.
