the goan I network
MARGAO
With just seven months to go for the Zilla Panchayat polls, questions are being asked in ZP circles whether the government will stick to the decision of holding elections for the two district panchayat bodies on party lines.
When this question was posed to Panchayat Minister Mauvin Godinho, he pointed out that though he is personally not in favour of holding elections for the panchayat bodies on party lines, the government has not taken any decision, either to do a re-think on holding the polls on party lines or revert back to the old system.
“Neither I have applied my mind to the issue nor the government. Personally, I am not in favour of holding election to the panchayat bodies on party lines,” Mauvin said.
Members recalled that the then BJP government had promised to devolve funds and powers to the ZPs when elections for the district panchayat were held for the first time on party lines.
Four-time ZP member and former South Goa ZP Chairperson Nelly Rodrigues said though the government had promised to devolve funds, powers and functions to the ZPs, the ground reality remains unchanged.
“The BJP had five years ago promised that if elections for the ZP are held on party lines, the district panchayat bodies will receive more funds and powers as mandated under the Constitution,” Nelly said, while demanding to know whether the government has fulfilled the promise during the last five years.
“The government has failed to devolve powers and functions to the ZPs during the last five years. As far as the funds are concerned, there’s not been any significant increase in the allocation of funds as was promised by the government,” she said.
Convenor of Goa Panchayati Raj Institutions, J Santan Rodrigues, made a fervent call to the Panchayat Minister to revert back to the old system under which ZP polls are fought.
“I appeal to the minister to get party politics out of the district panchayat bodies. Let party politics not come in the way of the smooth functioning of these Constitutional grassroots bodies,” Santan said.
Though the then BJP-led government had held the ZP polls on party lines, mounting pressure from various quarters later forced the government not to effect any changes to the municipal polls.
Presently, the BJP is ruling the South Goa ZP body with senior BJP leader Navnath Naik holding fort since 2015.
The BJP had formed the ZP with support of the
MGP, which was then its alliance partner.
