PANAJI
Leader of Opposition, Michael Lobo on Thursday backed the State government's proposal to the State Election Commission (SEC) seeking that the panchayat polls be deferred by three months owing to the monsoon and to meet the requirements of the elaborate 'triple test' process for ensuring reservations for OBCs.
Lobo said to safeguard the interest of the State's OBC population, it is necessary that the polls be deferred so that the OBC corporation can go about the process to prepare the data for reservations as laid down in the Supreme Court judgement.The Opposition Leader however cautioned that the process should be expeditiously completed and the report submitted to the SEC so that the scheme for reservation of wards can be finalised within three months.
Lobo said it is now for the SEC to either accept or reject the government's proposal, adding that he sees no reason for the former to reject it.
The term of the panchayats ends in June and elections should have been held beforehand. However, the State government has proposed the appointment of administrators to run the affairs of the village bodies in the interim period between the date their terms expire and the elections are eventually held.
Lobo on the other hand made a case for all current sarpanchas to continue as administrators and maintain continuity along with the Secretary so that the public does not suffer.
"People should not suffer in the interim period," Lobo said, adding that the sarpanch, secretary and the BDO can jointly fill the void in the interim period where routine work of the public is carried on.
Lobo said it's just a question of the State government issuing an administrative order to allow sarpanchas to continue until the new body is elected and takes charge.
