the goan I network
MARGAO
What’s the government take on the postponed Zilla Panchayat polls? It’s little over a month now since the government was forced to postpone the Zilla Panchayat elections scheduled on March 22 after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced Janata Curfew on that day.
The government is yet to unveil its stand on the Zilla Panchayat polls with the extended lockdown set to end exactly a week from now on May 3. One thing, however, seems clear. There is consensus emerging among the contesting candidates that the government should not rush to hold the Zilla Panchayat election till the situation thrown up by the Carona-19 pandemic returns to normal.
Candidates cutting across party lines are unanimous in their opinion that the government should not move with haste to declare the ZP poll though the state is free from the Covid-19 pandemic for the moment. Suggestions have been made by sitting ZP members and candidates that the ZP poll should be held only after life returns to normal.
Congress candidate for the Guirdolim seat, Sonia Fernandes, said that elections will come and go and there ought to be no haste in holding the postponed polls. “I am of the firm opinion that the government should not put the lives of the people at risk. Life is more important. Safety of people is paramount,” she said.
Her Benaulim counterpart Royla Fernandes, who is contesting on the Congress banner, echoed similar sentiments.
“The government may say that Goa is presently free from Covid-19, but we do not know how the situation would evolve once the borders are opened and other activities start. Let the situation stabilize fully,” Royla said while insisting that nothing should be done in a hurry.
Sitting BJP ZP member Ulhas Tuemkar said he is confident that the government will not hold elections for the Zilla Panchayats in a hurry. “I don’t think people will come out of their houses to stand in queues to cast their votes in the prevailing situation. Things should stabilize completely,” he added.
Two-time ZP member, Cipru Cardozo, who is seeking re-election from Navelim as an Independent, said even though the lockdown is to be lifted from May 3, the situation is not conducive to hold elections in the immediate future. “I have no issue if the government takes more time to hold the ZP polls. Nothing should be done that will put the lives of the people at risk,” Cipru added.
