Check irregularities or we’ll boycott polls — Goa Cong

PANAJI, OCT 1: A delegation of Goa Congress leaders have threatened to boycott the polls unless irregularities pointed out by them in pre-...

PANAJI, OCT 1: A delegation of Goa Congress leaders have threatened to boycott the polls unless irregularities pointed out by them in pre-poll preparations and unconstitutional appointments of Block Returning Officers (BROs) are not rectified. The delegation presented their demands to AICC observer Anant Seth and Pradesh Returning Officer and chairman of Goa Pradesh Congress Election Authority Blasius D’Souza.

During the meeting, Goa CLP leader Ravi Naik offered to quit his post if PCC president Luizinho Faleiro also follows suit so that the party can have new leaders to the posts.

The delegation demanded that Faleiro, who had interfered with the election process despite the independent election machinery constituted at the instance of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, should be replaced so as to prevent him from rigging the elections. He should also be disqualified from contesting the organisational polls in view of his direct interfereance, the delegation demanded.

Senior Congress leaders pointed out that not only the BROs were appointed without following the procedure laid down in the party constitution, but out of the 21 BROs of South Goa District, 17 were from the Faleiro’s constituency thus proving his interference in toto.

The delegation said they have submitted a memorandum to chairman of AICC Central Election Committee Ramnivas Mirdha pointing out the irregularities.

The Congress leaders also pointed out that Faleiro should have provided 33 per cent reservation to women and 20 per cent to minorities, and but since he has knowledge of organisational work, he has failed to reserve seats to these classes in advance.

Sethi, who is also an MP, is on special deputation to Goa to verify the arrangement made by the State PCC. On finding out the lapses, he was astounded.

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To prove their point, the delegation questioned the PRO where the electoral rolls of the two districts of Goa were placed. The PRO started fumbling. The delegation then informed Sethi that the rolls were kept by the South Goa District President at his residence.