the goan I network
VASCO
The elections to the Sancoale Comunidade held on Sunday morning was deferred to a new date after opposition over the procedures followed by the presiding officer conducting the elections.
Sources said that the opposition arose because stake holders of the Comunidade took the ballot papers outside the election premises. Sources also informed that the candidates were seen filling the ballot paper themselves outside the premises.
Several stakeholders who are also senior citizens were irked with the time taken to conduct elections and sources said that the elections went on almost the whole day on Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm but was later deferred to a different date after some shareholders objected to the procedure adopted.
Sources said that candidates later came together and decided to defer the election to a next date and also approach the Collector South to decide on the next date for the election.
Speaking to the media, Former Sarpanch Nilima Naik said that proper procedure was not followed during the election.
“The election was delayed and names were taken only at 3 pm and several senior citizens had to go hungry due to this. We (candidates) later arrived at a decision to postpone the elections to a new date. Ballot papers were allowed to be given outside and there was news that forms were being filled by candidates themselves and opposition objected. Presiding officer is at fault,”
said Naik.
Meanwhile Former Sarpanch of Sancoale Panchayat Ramakant Borkar said that this was the first time in many years that the election had taken the whole day.
“For the first time, Shareholders have been forced to wait from 10 am till 5 pm. Many didn’t get a chance to have lunch. The procedure adopted is a total failure. A few of the shareholders have health issues and are forced to wait for such a long time. Ballot papers were given by presiding officers to shareholders which was objectionable. Later it was decided to hold an election on a
later date,” said Borkar.
