the goan I network
PANAJI
The Zilla Panchayat polls, which were scheduled to be conducted in the State on March 22, have now been postponed to March 24, with the State Government and State Election Commissioner responding to an appeal by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a “Janata Curfew” on March 22.
“Respecting the appeal made by Honourable Prime Minister for “Janata Curfew” on March 22, and in the interest of wider participation of electorate in the Zilla Panchayat elections, the State Government in consultation with the State Election Commissioner has decided to postpone the Zilla Panchayat Polling date to March 24,” stated a tweet by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant.
The March 22 Zilla Panchayat election had come under a cloud of uncertainty with Prime Minister Narendra Modi suggesting a self-imposed ‘Janata Curfew’ on Sunday, the polling day, in his nationwide televised address on Thursday night.
Sources disclosed that the government has gone into a huddle while opening channels of discussions with the Centre.
The Congress and the BJP were full on into campaigning making a last ditch effort to woo the electorate and made have made no demand for postponement of Zilla elections. While the Aam Aadmi Party said it was okay if polls were not conducted, the Goa Forward Party appealed for the postponement of the election. MGP has, however, not come with any statement on the issue.
“We are campaigning door to door by maintaining all
safety norms. We are not holding big rallies. Congress is prepared for the elections”, said Goa Pradesh Congress Committee president Girish Chodankar.
NCP’s Benaulim MLA Churchill Alemao was also in campaign mode exuding confidence that both the party candidates, Menino de Bandar in Benaulim and Vania Baptista (Colva) would emerge victorious.
Alemao said he was not feeling the pressure from the Congress, which is making a determined bid to regain its past glory in Benaulim. “I am not under any pressure. I have addressed only two meetings of my candidates. I have been helping out my candidates over the phone”, he said, adding that he had got former ZP member Maria Rebello thrice elected from Benaulim.
In Guirdolim, while Opposition leader Digambar Kamat descended in Balli to address a meeting in support of Congress candidate Sonia Fernandes, BJP State president Sadanand Tanavade made his presence felt in the constituency evening to enthuse the BJP workers.
That the BJP leadership is leaving no stone unturned to win the Guirdolim seat assumes significance as the constituency is represented by the Assembly by Congress-turned-BJP MLA Clafacio Dias.
Yuri Alemao made no bones of the fact that the Congress is concentrating in Balli to break the BJP vote in a bid to poll sizeable vote in the village, which will benefit the party in the ultimate analysis.
