PONDA
With the Election Commission of India revealing that Goa has increased its number of voters by 8,816 as part of a recent revision of electoral rolls, one constituency has grabbed the lion’s share of new voters.
Ponda constituency has registered 889 new voters, making it the constituency with the largest number of new voters from among all 40 constituencies in the State and accounting for 10% of the state’s new voters.
This sharp rise in voters is expected to have significant political implications in Ponda constituency, beginning with the forthcoming Ponda Municipal Council PMC polls slated for May 6, and political parties are already keen to study the new voter list, either to contest the addition of new voters or to woo them.
According to the last electoral rolls, Ponda assembly constituency -- which consists of Ponda town and Curti Khandepar panchayat -- had 28,594 registered voters, comprising 14,894 males and 13,700 females.
Local political analysts have felt that the addition of nearly 900 voters in Ponda constituency could significantly alter the political situation in the assembly segment, compelling politicians and political parties to make all efforts to woo this new set of voters.
“There is a growing trend in Goa, and especially in Ponda, that migrants are being used for election purposes. If the new addition of voters comprise a large segment of migrants, then obviously you can never known whom they will support,” a politician on the condition of anonymity told The Goan.
It may be recalled that shortly prior to the 2017 assembly elections, the enrolment of around 300 military men as voters had sparked off a controversy in Ponda, prompting the Congress to complain to the election commission and to demand a cross check of the voter enrolment.
When contacted, Ponda MLA and former chief minister Ravi Naik said his office will check the new additions of voters in Ponda constituency.
Asked if this new development would impact forthcoming Ponda Municipal Council (PMC) elections, Naik replied: “Let me study this situation, because the last time to they had done such additions. Once we get the electoral rolls, we will crosscheck the list and if needed, we will file a complaint.”
Naik, who defeated MGP candidate and former MLA Lavu Mamledar in the 2017 assembly election, had visited every single house in his constituency during his campaign. As such, it would be vital for a seasoned politician like him to know the details of these new voters.
BJP Ponda Block President and PMC Councilor Vishwanath Dalvi suggested that the addition in voters could be due to the growing importance of Ponda city.
“Many people from villages have been shifting to Ponda on account of various reasons and so, people prefer to settle in Ponda. This constituency has religious, economic and educational importance. Besides, it is also a centralised place and people have given Ponda town first preference,” Dalvi said.
“Also, these new voters could also comprise the first-time voters from Ponda who have completed 18 years and are eligible to exercise their franchise. In any case, the BJP will make efforts to visit these new voters.”
Agreeing that many of the new voters could be first-time voters, MGP Block President Anil Naik said his party would go through the voter rolls.
Asked if they would file any complaint over the large number of additions in voter list, Naik: “We have not decided anything as such at this point in time.”
