PANJIM: A delegation of opposition political parties would be
meeting Chief Election Commissioner Dr Nasim Zaidi on March 6 to appraise him
about the serious lapses by the Goa election office in the postal ballot
process. There are total 15, 590 postal ballots of which the Chief
Election Office has received over 10,000 ballots till date- with last date
being morning on March 11.
All opposition parties, including the former coalition
partner in the BJP-led government- MGP, during their joint meeting on February
23 had unanimously demanded cancellation of entire postal ballot held
till date and call for re-polling by EVMs for free and fair voting process.
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All India Congress Committee (AICC) secretary Girish
Chodankar informed that the delegation would be meeting three-member ECI team
chaired by Zaidi on Monday afternoon, where would be place before the
commission the fact that the postal balloting process has been conducted in
violation of the ECI guidelines and as such has made mockery of the election
process.
“We are not against postal balloting but 35 days time
granted to these service voters defeats the purpose of free and fair elections,”
he said.
The oppositions had charged CEO of leaking serial numbers
of postal ballots to BJP, who in-turn are misusing it to
threaten and influence government employees.
The political opponents like Congress, Nationalist Congress
Party (NCP), MGP, Goa Forward party, Goa Vikas Party, Goa suraksha manch and
Goa Su-Raj party have joined hands on the issue.
During the meeting with ECI, the delegation will also bring
to the notice about the voting done by the military personnel in constituencies
like Navelim, Ponda and Panjim.
