MAPUSA
The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Friday said any plans to conduct civic elections through EVMs will be opposed and demanded that the elections should be conducted only through ballot papers but without the serial numbers.
“We have reliably learnt the government is planning to bring an amendment to conduct the ensuing civic elections through EVMs. The NCP will oppose any such move and wants the elections to be conducted through ballot papers minus the serial numbers,” said Sanjay Barde, General Secretary of NCP.
The NCP general secretary along with his supporters was addressing a news conference in Mapusa.
Continuing, Barde sought to remind that the NCP had written to the State Election Commission (SEC) appealing to hold the elections through ballot papers.
He said that the party had also asked the SEC not to print serial numbers on ballot papers and its counterfoils as it helps to identify the voter.
He said the SEC should act as a neutral umpire while conducting the elections, but in Goa it seems the SEC was acting on the instructions of the political leadership.
“The SEC is dancing to the tunes of the BJP-led government in the State depriving level playing field to the opposition,” Barde said.
Slamming the outgoing councillors of Mapusa for failing to do any development worth its salt, the NCP general secretary said the past council has failed to provide basic necessities such as toilets and good roads to the residents.
“The new Mapusa bus-stand is estimated to cost around Rs 240 crore. Now, the government is planning to spend just one-and-half per cent of the total cost on the bus stand to show the people that something is being done in Mapusa,” he said.
He said the former council failed to carry out any work in wards and concentrated only on the market.
