Former Sancoale Sarpanch Ramakant Borker while speaking to reporters outside the Ravindra Bhavan at Baina.
VASCO
Former Sancoale sarpanch Ramakant Borker on Monday demanded that the State Election Commission (SEC) immediately withdraws the ‘ball’ symbol for the panchayat elections and allot new symbols for candidates, even if it means a delay of panchayat elections by a few days.
“Why was the ‘ball’ symbol, the symbol of Revolutionary Goans Party (RGP), included in the list of symbols for candidates, if panchayat elections are not held on party lines,” asked Borker, while speaking to reporters.
"I have got the ‘ball’ symbol and many candidates across Goa may have also got this symbol. This has led to confusion in the minds of people who have misunderstood that the candidate with a ball symbol is a RGP-backed candidate. Why should anybody advertise and promote the symbol of ‘ball’ and why has the SEC not included other party symbols like Hand ,Lotus, Broom, Lion or Coconut," said Borkar.
"The SEC has confused our voters with the ‘ball’ symbol and people have even questioned me if I am an RGP candidate. The SEC has not done its job and I want to ask them if this an attempt to fool Goans.”
Borker said it was not too late and the SEC could still change the symbol and replace it with other symbols for candidates who have got the ‘ball’ symbol across Goa, even if it meant a delay in panchayat elections by a few more days," said Borkar.
"The ‘ball’ symbol has its own advantages and disadvantages. Because I am from a minority ward with a majority of migrants, they may not vote for the ‘ball’ symbol, while some wards which may have many Goans will vote for the ‘ball’, immaterial of the calibre of the candidates," said Borkar.
Borkar demanded that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant intervene in the issue and direct the SEC to take action.
"The SEC must withdraw the ‘ball’ symbol and give candidates an alternative symbol. Assembly election symbols of political parties must be excluded from the symbol list of the panchayat elections or civic elections in the State," Borkar added.
