VASCO
The government's announcement of the reservation of municipal wards on Thursday was met with strong objection from candidates planning to contest the forthcoming municipal council election in the port town.
Most of the BJP workers have expressed their resentment with this last-minute announcement, and have termed the ward reservation as a move to protect the political interests of ruling politicians.
Mormugao Councillor Sharad (Nitin) Chopedkar, who is planning to contest from ward 7 that has been reserved for women, called the move as "politically motivated". Chopedkar stated that in the last council election, the same ward was reserved for women (OBC candidate), and therefore, according to him, reserving the ward once again for women is a political gimmick by a local politician who wants to deprive him from contesting the council election from that ward.
"The local politician does not have a candidate to contest against me and win the ward election, and that is the reason he is hiding behind women by reserving the ward for the second time for women," said Chopedkar.
"I had a strong feeling that this reservation would take place, which is why I had filed my objection with the Directorate of Municipalities beforehand. I will appeal this against this reservation in the High Court on Monday and seek justice," added Chopedkar.
One Abhijit Salgoakar, who is planning to contest election, has also objected to the reservation of the wards. Salgaokar said that when the Chief Minister Laximikant Parsekar says that he does not believe in caste, then the question of reservation does not arise.
Councillor Fiola Rego stated that the last-minute announcement of the reservation of wards has deprived some candidates from contesting in their respective wards.
Former BJP Youth President from Vasco, Prashant Narvekar, who is also planning to contest the election from one of the wards against the BJP-supported candidate, told 'The Goan' that he is annoyed with this last-minute reservation of the wards. Narvekar stated that this announcement at the eleventh hour has left candidates with very less time for canvassing.
