the goan I network
MARGAO
South Goa Zilla Panchayat’s rush to float tenders even when the government has announced and rescheduled the polls continues unabated.
If the ZP body had rushed with a Rs one crore tender a couple of days ago to beat the election code of conduct, tenders for developmental works to the tune of Rs 66 lakh were published in the newspapers on Wednesday, a day when the government has re-scheduled the polls to the district Panchayat body by a week.
Sources in the South Zilla Panchayat, however, said the fate of the latest tender published today hangs in balance since it takes minimum 14 days for the opening of the tender. While officials in private said the tender will be opened depending on the notification issued by the State Election Commission, sources in the know say the tender will certainly give a big advantage to the 5-6 ZP members in the ensuing election.
For, they can produce the tender details before their close aides and the voters, highlighting the works already executed in their constituencies and the works which will kick start after the election. “The latest tender published on Wednesday will benefit only a group of 5-6 Zilla members, whose works were not taken up for tendering in the past,” officials said, adding that the tender will be opened if the election code of conduct does not come into force within the next 15 days.
The rush of tenders floated by the South Goa Zilla Panchayat assumes significance given that majority of the sitting members are planning to recontest the ensuing election.
While the fate of the latest tender hangs in balance, the tender floated around a fortnight ago is likely to be opened around mid-February, with officials saying the Zilla panchayat office is bracing to issue work orders to the contractors before the State Election Commission comes out with the election notification. “As per rules, work orders can be issued before the election conduct of code comes into force. There’s no bar even on the execution of the work unless barred by the State Election Commission,” officials added.
The South Goa Zilla Panchayat is presently controlled by the ruling BJP, with party leader Navnath Naik presiding the affairs of the Zilla Panchayat for the last five years. While the Congress had stayed away from contesting the 2015 Zilla Panchayat elections on party lines, the BJP had emerged as a major group in the Zilla Panchayat and had formed the body with the support of MGP and the independents.
Churchill develops cold feet on the question of fielding NCP candidates
MARGAO: In an interesting development, Nationalist Congress Party’s lone MLA Churchill Alemao seemed to have developed cold feet on the question of fielding candidates on party lines, saying election is not a joke unless the party leadership makes available the required funds.
Given that the NCP Goa unit chief, Jose Philip D’Souza has come out strongly in favour of contesting the ensuing ZP polls on the party banner and the party lone MLA sceptical about the entire exercise unless backed by funds, NCP supremo Sharad Pawar and party national general secretary Praful Patel are expected to hold discussions with the state party leaders to break the impasse on the coming polls.
Churchill told the media on Wednesday that though he was in favour of the NCP contesting the SP election on the party banner, the party national leadership appears not keen in extending all support to the party unit by way of monetary assistance. “It’s true that I was all in favour of the NCP contesting the ZP polls on the party banner. However, I realized that it would require a good deal of money to fund for the election campaign. ZIlla Panchayat seats comprise of 3-4 or even more villages and unless the candidates spend money, it would not be possible to put up a fight”, he added. When pointed out that NCP Goa unit Chief Jose Philip D’Souza has announced the party decision to contest the ZP polls on the party banner, Churchill shot back “I have no issue if Jose Philip and the party want to contest the election. But, the party president should realize that technical and financial problems could mar the election prospects.”
DIGAMBAR
CONFIDENT
MARGAO: Leader of Opposition Digambar Kamat has said though the Congress has only five MLAs in the Goa Legislative Assembly, the party can win big in the ensuing Zilla Panchayat polls, saying the people Goa are strongly behind the Congress party.
Saying there will be no re-think on the decision to contest the ensuing ZP polls on the party banner, Kamat said the party took the decision since it was felt that it is high time the party should have its own identity in the election.
Kamat’s stand assumes significance and comes against the backdrop of reports that a section of senior Congress leaders are not in favour of the party contesting the ZIlla polls on the party banner for the simple reason that the party’s five MLAs in the Assembly may not be able to cut much ice with the electorate across the state.
“The Congress may have only five MLAs in the Assembly. But, I am confident that the people of Goa are solidly behind the Congress party”, Kamat said.
