PANAJI
Accusing the BJP government for manipulation in OBC reservation in the Panchayat polls, St Andre MLA Viresh Borkar informed that the manipulation has helped many BJP-backed candidates getting elected unopposed.
Borkar further alleged that candidates fielded by Revolutionary Goans (RG) party in Agassaim are being pressured by opponents.
Speaking to reporters, Borkar said the panchayat election was initially announced to be held in June, but later the government said it would be held after rains.
“But then after High Court order, the government was forced to hold it in August. But the polls were announced without OBC reservation and the Revolutionary Goans were ready with general candidates in such wards,” the MLA stated.
“Then at the nth hour, the government announces the OBC reservation which scuttles the planning of RG which finds it difficult to field OBC candidates in many wards. In one such instance, former MLA Francisco Silveira's nephew got elected unopposed in Ward 1 of Agassaim as it got reserved for OBC,” Borkar informed.
“Not only in Agassaim but in many villages the government has done manipulation in OBC reservation to favour their candidates,” he added and cited the case of Azossim-Mandur wherein a ward was reserved for OBC woman when only three OBC voters were registered.
Further, he informed that RG has not done any setting with anyone in Agassaim and has fielded a strong panel with Goretti Barretto contesting against Francisco Silveira's brother Benny in Ward 2.
“Also, in Ward 10, Lakshdeep Gauns is contesting against former sarpanch Xavier Gracias, who is a known right hand of the former MLA,” Borkar stated while adding that the RG candidates are being pressured by opponents.
Diana D'Mello (ward 4), Julius Almeida (ward 5), Deepak Gauns (ward 7), Vishant Naik (ward 8), Vanushka Rodrigues (ward 9) and Benjamita Esteao (ward 11) are the other RG candidates in Agassim.
