The sordid imbroglio over the panchayat elections that has been witnessed over the last few months has finally ended with the decks cleared for186 Goa panchayats to go to the polls on August 10. Panchayats have been the backbone of the Indian villages. This shameless government tried every trick possible to postpone these vital elections.Over the last few weeks so much of the High Court’s time was consumed hearing numerous petitions on this issue. The final batch of petitions was over the reservation of OBC seats not done in line with the Supreme Court directives. The High Court has strongly reprimanded the State Election Commission on this issue but was helpless in being unable to undo this illegality.
This government which has become so thick skinned has become immune to judicial strictures which they don’t seem to care about. Disrespecting court orders seems so glaringly obvious and by now is a BJP trait. The ball is now in the people’s court who should ensure that good, knowledgeable and dedicated persons with integrity are elected to the panchayats so that good governance at grass root level is ensured.
