MARGAO
The presence of BJP bigwigs, including MLAs, inside the office of the Returning Officer, Margao, triggered an uproar on Monday after Aam Admi Party Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas questioned the different set of rules for the ruling and opposition parties.
In fact, the AAP MLA demanded the removal of the AERO for having turned a blind eye to the presence of more than five BJP leaders, including MLAs, inside the office.
Trouble began when Venzy noticed the presence of MLAs Ulhas Tuenkar and Sankalp Amonkar, besides party workers and leaders, inside the AERO’s office. His contention was that when the AAP delegation accompanied party candidates to another AERO, they were told to stay out since the rules permit only two persons, including the candidate and proposer.
“How can the AEROs work with a different set of rules for the ruling BJP and opposition parties? Stern action needs to be taken against the AERO,” he demanded.
As Venzy kept harping from outside that the AERO order the extra BJP leaders to move out, a couple of BJP workers did leave the hall. Incidentally, one of the BJP leaders, Deepak Naik, was engaged in a spat with a policeman manning the AERO office as he told him to move out.
Venzy later told the media that AEROs in other talukas too are working in favour of the BJP leaders, questioning whether they are working for the Election Commission or for the BJP.
