PMC polls: Controversial date upsets many voters

PONDA  
The State Election Commission’s (SEC) decision to conduct elections to the Ponda Municipal Council (PMC) on May 6, which coincides with a key feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Ponda, has led to concerns that voter turnout could be adversely affected on account of the feast.  
With as many as 1,000 Catholic families in Ponda town expected to participate in the feast at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Chapel, there have been growing calls from church leaders and politicians requesting the State Election commission to either advance or postpone the date declared for PMC elections.  
While nearly all those contacted by The Goan demanded a change in poll date, some opined that while the decision on the poll date may have been accidental and not deliberate, the SEC should have taken the local administration into confidence before suggesting dates to the government.  
Fr Simon Pinto, chaplain of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Chapel told The Goan that the SEC should change the date of PMC polls, on account of the chapel feast on that day.  
“There are around 1,000 Catholic families in Ponda. We have Masses at 6 am and at 9.30 am on the feast day. How will people go to exercise their franchise when they will be celebrating the feast? I feel SEC should reconsider its decision,” said Fr Pinto.  
In a letter to Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar and the SEC state election commission, Ponda MLA and former chief minister Ravi Naik said: “There is the feast of Our Lady of Carmel scheduled on May 6, where in the Catholic community as well as local people of Ponda celebrate this feast.”  
Expressing concern that voting per cent may go down if the SEC sticks to its decision, Naik has requested the SEC to either advance or postpone the PMC elections.  
PMC councilor Irvin Soares said the SEC should have had taken local administration into confidence.  
“I will not say this (decision on date) was deliberate, but the SEC failed to take views from the mamlatdar, who would have alerted election authorities about the feast and other such key events in Ponda town,” Soares said.  
“We have asked SEC to change the PMC poll date. It should be seven days advanced from the scheduled date. The PMC has already written to SEC in this regards,” Soares added.  
PMC Councillor Vincent Paul Fernandes feared that if elections are held on May 6, it would largely affect those wards with a sizeable Christian voters.