Say two wards interchanged to suit interests of panch
the goan I network
MAPUSA
According to locals in at least two wards, houses as mapped in 2012 have remained intact but ward numbers have been interchanged.
The houses which represented Ward 4 in 2012 have become Ward 5 this time, while houses which defined Ward 5 last time, have become Ward 4 in this election.
“The panchayat secretary is involved in this fraud of interchanging the wards. It was done to basically save panch member, Savio Martins, who is close to the local MLA. This is a game played by the ruling party,” said Anna Halarnkar, a local from Bastora.
Coincidentally, Ward 4, which Savio Martins contested in 2012, has been declared a women’s ward this time around and Ward 5 is a general ward.
Also, Savio Martins, a former Congressman has drifted towards Aldona MLA Glenn Ticlo and has been a close ally of the legislator since the 2012 assembly polls.
“There are vested interests for interchanging the wards. Everyone knows it is done
on purpose for a particular person,” said Andrew D’Souza, former deputy sarpanch
of Bastora.
The villagers said they have deliberately not moved the courts, since it was too late now. According to them, the best way to answer the ruling dispensation was by fielding a joint opposition and defeating the ruling panel’s candidates.
Bastora Panchayat Secretary Smitha Parab said there was nothing wrong with the delimitation process. “I do not think there is any issue with the delimitation process. We have followed the village map and everything is done as per rules,” justified Parab.
Panch member Savio Martins admitted that he enjoyed an advantage as the situation stands now, but he said he
did not find any irregularities in the delimitation process.
“Some people raised voices verbally, but no one has filed a complaint before the Returning Officer when the electoral rolls were kept in the open for public for 10 days,”
Martins said.
P’yat polls: 256 more file nominations
PANAJI: An additional 256 persons across 186 panchayats filed their nominations to contest the ensuing panchayat elections. While 130 nominations were received in North Goa 126 were received in South Goa on Friday. Earlier in the week, the State Election Commission notified polls for 186 village panchayats on June 11 with the counting scheduled on June 13.
Dharbandora taluka saw 5 nominations, Salcete 77 nominations, Canacona 4, Mormugao 6, Quepem13, and Sanguem 2 in
South Goa. Tiswadi saw 35, Sattari 11, Ponda 19 and Pernem 8 Bicholim 12 and Bardez with 64.
The process for filing nominations of candidates began on May 18 and will continue till May 25 followed by scrutiny on May 26 and 27. Withdrawal of nominations is slated for May 29.
