the goan I network
PANAJI
On May 19, Panjimites will have to come out and vote for the third time in two years, after the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the by-poll date on Tuesday.
The seat fell vacant last month after the passing away of Panaji MLA and former Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar. Counting of votes will be done on May 23, along with counting for the remaining three by-elections and the two Lok Sabha seats.
The announcement for by-elections to fill up vacancies in state legislative assemblies was made for three states: Tamil Nadu, Karanataka and Goa.
The gazette notification for the same will be issued on April 22 (Monday), the last date to file nominations will be April 29 (Monday), and the scrutiny of nominations will be done on April 30 (Tuesday). Any candidates who wish to withdraw their nominations can do so on May 2 (Thursday).
The office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) has said that it is prepared for the by-election which will be held across 30 polling stations, with 22,480 voters being registered.
So far, Atanasio Monserrate appeared to be sure of contesting the by-elections as an independent. He told reporters on Tuesday that there was no question of him contesting on the Goa Forward Party (GFP) ticket as they were an alliance partner in the current government. “You’ve seen what’s happened to the MGP, and I don’t want Viaji Sardessai to suffer the same fate,” he said. When asked about the Congress, he said, “I look forward to everyone’s support. If their main purpose is to defeat the opposition then they need to support me.” Monserrate had formally been with both the Congress and the GFP.
Speaking about his plans, he said that the immediate plan was to start the garbage treatment plant in Vainguinim. “I had told Parrikar at that time that we could have a small plant that would cater to Panjim and Taleigao,” he said. About the rejuvenation of the St Inez Creek, Monserrate said that it had not been done despite a promise being made before each election.
The Congress issued a statement saying, “We will soon start the process of candidate selection for Panaji.” There are several contenders for the Congress ticket including two ex mayors Surendra Furtado and Yatin Parekh.
The AAP will also contest, with Valmiki Naik being a front-runner, party general secretary and North Goa MP candidate Pradeep Padgaonkar told ‘The Goan.’
Meanwhile, Panjimites will have to wait and watch who gets the BJP ticket. In 2017, Sidharth Kuncalienkar won the seat. He, however, had to give up the seat when Manohar Parrikar gave up his position as Union Defence Minister and came back to Goa as Chief Minister. Two years later, the party has extended an invitation to the two Parrikar brothers - Utpal and Abhijat to join them.
When contacted, Kuncalienkar told “The Goan” that he would abide by the party’s decision. “As a party karyakarta, whatever responsibility the party gives me, I am ready to fulfill. I have never asked for anything. The BJP and Manohar Parrikar have made me what I am today,” he said.
Last week, the party registered a police complaint after a note on party letter head went viral on WhatsApp calling the party out for its “dynasty” politics, since the Parrikar brothers were extended an invitation to join the party. The note spoke of his
“supreme sacrifice” of Sidharth in giving up the Panaji seat, for Parrikar to be able to contest.
