MARGAO
The majority five-member group in the Rumdamol village Panchayat cried foul over the postponement of Monday’s election for the post of Sarpanch, terming the development as a “mockery of democracy and the Constitution of India”.
From the disqualification of the four members last week to Monday’s postponement of election under suspicious circumstances, the majority group has attributed political pressure behind the delay tactics to scuttle election of the Rumdamol sarpanch.
“When certain people thanked Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Panchayat Minister Mauvin Godinho, Panchayat Director after the BDO disqualified the four members, it shows there’s pressure on the officials to scuttle the election process and murder democracy. This is nothing but mockery of democracy and of the constitution of India.”, stated panchayat member Umran Pathan.
The majority members challenged the Panchayat authorities to hold the postponed election immediately. “The Panchayat director did not fill up the vacant post of Sarpanch for nearly two months. But, when the BDO disqualified the four Panchaayt members on July 28, the Panchayat Director issue the meeting notice on July 29 by fixing the election on August 4. Since Monday’s election has been postponed because of the sickness of the Presiding officers, the Director should not waste time and call for a meeting to hold the vacant post of Sarpanch”, Umran added.
