MARGAO
The election for the vacant posts of Sarpanch and Deputy Sarpanch of the Davorlim Village Panchayat descended into chaos and controversy on Wednesday, following a series of abrupt decisions by the authorities.
The lady Presiding Officer appointed by Salcete BDO Adarsh Desai had initiated the election process as scheduled on Wednesday morning. However, proceedings were halted midway after the government declared a public holiday to mourn the demise of Agriculture Minister Ravi Naik.
So far, the situation appeared under control. The Presiding Officer formally cancelled the election process and obtained the signatures of the panchayat members to record the decision. But tensions flared when the BDO instructed the Presiding Officer to resume the election, reversing the earlier order.
This sudden volte-face sparked strong protests from the non-BJP panchayat members, who demanded an explanation as to how the election could be revived after being cancelled in accordance with the government’s holiday notification.
Matters escalated further when the BDO allegedly told the dissenting members that they were “free to challenge the decision in court.” The aggrieved members, many belonging to the Scheduled Tribe (ST) community, protested the remark, arguing that they lacked the means to pursue legal action.
The situation prompted police intervention, with uniformed personnel arriving at the Panchayat hall to maintain order. Social activist Pratima Coutinho also arrived at the scene, asserting that the election must be conducted strictly as per the Goa Panchayati Raj Act and not at the whims of any officer. “Once the Presiding Officer has cancelled the election process, it cannot be revived at the instance of the BDO,” Coutinho said.
Facing mounting opposition, the BDO eventually instructed the Presiding Officer to cancel the election once again. The presiding officer declined to offer any comments on the attempt made to revive the election process after the cancellation. She, however, said the decision to cancel the election was taken based on a notification issued by the government declaring a public holiday due to Ravi Naik’s demise.
Panch Menino Colaco, proposed by the non-BJP group for the post of Sarpanch, expressed shock at the handling of the situation. “We do not want any controversy. But when the election was cancelled after the government declared a holiday, how could the BDO return to hold it again? On what basis was it cancelled, and on what grounds was the attempt made to revive the process?, he questioned.
Panch member Francisco Dias also condemned the BDO’s response. “We belong to the ST community. We cannot afford to go to court. Why are the authorities taking the ST community for granted?” he asked, insisting that elections cannot be conducted “as per the whims and fancies of officers.”
