PANAJI: The statement made by Panchayat Minister Mauvin Godinho stating that the file pertaining to fixing of dates and reservations of Zilla Panchayat (ZP) elections is sent to State Election Commission (SEC) has raised serious questions on intentions of the government to hold the elections in free and fair manner. The Panchayat Minister should explain under which provisions of law the SEC can take up the work, demanded Leader of the Opposition Digambar Kamat.
Reacting to Mauvin's statement that the file is sent to SEC for "Fixing" dates and reservations of ZP Polls, Kamat said that the match fixing tactics of of BJP government stands exposed.
The government has not given any powers to the SEC to do the reservations. If the government was clear, they would have made amendment to the Goa Panchayati Raj Act empowering the SEC in the last Assembly session, Kamat said adding that the government was deliberately delaying the process to create confusions.
Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) president Girish Chodankar condemned the act of the Panchayat Minister and demanded level playing field from the government with neutral umpire stated GPCC president Girish Chodankar.
Chodankar said the BJP was fully aware about its imminent defeat in the ZP polls and hence they were trying to adopt foul play method. "We demand that the ZP elections should be held with equal opportunity to all the candidates. The Congress party will not support the dirty tricks of the BJP."
There is no point in holding elections by adopting unfair practices. The spirit of democracy itself will get killed if such things take place, stated Chodankar.