MARGAO
Saying that he would have emerged triumphant if the election for the Margao Civic Chief was held under secret ballot, Goa Forward Party-backed former Margao municipal Chairperson Ganashyam Shirodkar on Tuesday suggested to the government to adopt the election system wherein the Mayor is elected directly by the voters.
While congratulating BJP-backed councillor Damu Naik as he is set to be declared elected unopposed as the next MMC chairperson, Ganashyam asserted that he would have thrown his hat in the election ring if it was held under secret ballot.
Ganashyam said he would have this time got the support of 17 councillors if the government had not come out with the Ordinance to hold the election by show of hands.
“I had gone to the court on the mode of holding the election for the post of municipal chairperson and vice-chairperson since the law provides for voting by secret ballot. However, the government has come out with an Ordinance to hold the election by show of hands,” he said while saying that the people of Goa will have to wait and see whether the provision in the Ordinance would become a law in the coming Assembly session.
Coming out in favour of holding a direct election for the post of municipal chairperson, Ganashyam said this is being followed by many States, where the people vote directly to elect the Mayor and the ward councillor.
“Such a system will rid the municipalities of political interference from the government and the local MLAs. If the government is serious about cleansing the system, the Pramod Sawant government should hold elections for the Ponda and Sanquelim municipalities directly for the chairperson’s post,” he demanded.
While extending his compliments to Damu Shirodkar as the latter is set to be declared elected unopposed, Ganashyam said all the 25 councillors should work as a team in the interest of the city.
