Questions raised whether SEC will stall the ongoing process
the goan I network
MARGAO
While candidates such as Roger Afonso, contesting from Ward No. 5 of Betalbatim village panchayat has said that he has already kicked up his campaign, others were circumspect over their fate in the wake of the Apex Court order. What has further added to the confusion was the fact that while the candidates were looking at the election authorities to guide them how to go about the matter, Returning Officer for the Betalbatim and Nuvem panchayats, Vishal Kundaikar made it clear to The Goan that he has not received any instructions from the State Election Commission till Tuesday evening on the election process.
“Though reports have spoken about the Supreme Court order staying the High Court order on de-reserving of the panchayat wards, my office has not received any instruction from the State Election Commission how to go about the matter. I will act only after receiving further instructions from the Election Commission,” Vishal said.
A contesting candidate from Ward No 5, Roger Afonso told The Goan that he has already kicked off his campaign in the ward. “After I was given the symbol by the Returning Officer, I along with my supporters have already started my campaign,” he said, while exuding confidence of winning the seat with the support of the people.
Questions have been raised whether the State Election Commission will stall the ongoing process or start the entire process afresh in the light of the Supreme Court order since candidates from the general category are also in the fray in all the four wards of Betalbatim and Nuvem.
Sources in the know said that after the three wards “ Ward No. 3, 5 and 7 “ which were reserved for the OBC were de-reserved after the High Court order, a couple of OBC candidates, who had filed their nomination papers had preferred to withdraw their candidature.
In Ward No. 10 of Nuvem Panchayat, initially reserved for the OBC, before the High Court intervention, a total of four candidates are in the fray. Sources said of the four candidates, two each belonged to the OBC and ST community.
Incumbent Nuvem MLA Wilfred D’Sa and his predecessor, Mickky Pacheco, who have extended support to their respective candidates, said things appear uncertain in the four wards after the Supreme Court order. “Most of the candidates had started their election campaign since Monday. But the Supreme Court order has raised many a questions,” Wilfred told The Goan.
Mickky, on the other hand, sought to blame the government for the confusion, saying the government should shoulder the blame for the situation. “This has happened because the Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar is listening more to the alliance partners,” Mickky reiterated.
Betalbatim panchayat
Ward No 3 “ Jacinta Gomes Vs Maria Rato
Ward No 5 “ Roger Afonso Vs Santana Fernandes
Ward No 7 “ Inacio Carvalho Vs Jose Pereira
Nuvem panchayat “ Ward No 10
Bernardo Fernandes, Felix Leo Afonso, Patric Fernandes and Peter Fernandes
