Madgao Loksamiti demands removal of returning officer
HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, OCT 11
Madgao Loksamiti has demanded the replacement of the Returning Officer for the Margao Municipal polls, Johnson Fernandes before the process of scrutiny of nomination paper commences on Tuesday morning, apprehending that the Returning officer would reject the nomination paper of Purnanand Chari on grounds that he belongs to the creamy layer within the OBC caste.
Loksamiti spokesperson Mohandas Lolienkar said the organization has failed to understand how the so-called creamy layer concept can be made applicable at the Municipal election level and demanded an inquiry into the role of the Returning Officer in the conspiracy to subvert the democratic process of free and fair election.
When newsmen pointed out that the scrutiny process is yet to commence and there’s no objection from quarter to Chari’s candidature in ward no 8, Lolienkar said it has come to the notice of the Loksamiti that systematic attempts are being made by vested interests to subvert the democratic process of free and fair elections. “This is attempted to be done by using the key position of Johnson Fernandes as Returning Officer, whose decision at the time of scrutiny of nomination paper is virtually final”, he added.
He apprehended that the nomination forms of Purnanand Chari, in particular, and of such other candidates, will be rejected for some or other reason, without any support of law, by the same Returning Officer.
“The deep-rooted conspiracy to control and manipulate the Margao Municipal Council elections has been planned to deprive the citizens of Margao of a properly elected council and a truly democratic and transparent self-governing body. It is obvious that the Returning Officer is a key player in this dastardly plot hatched by certain politicians”, he said.
When newsmen told Lolienkar and others to name the Powers that be behind the conspiracy and whether CM, Digambar Kamat is also part of the plot, Lolienkar evaded the question, but said the Chief Minister should take note of the grievances of the Loksamiti.
Meanwhile, Purnanand Chari, who has filed his papers for Ward No 8, told newsmen that it is his basic democratic right to contest the polls. On the controversy and confusions surrounding the creamy layer concept within the OBC, Chari said “there may be some confusion in the minds of some authority, but I don’t see the creamy layer as a hurdle for me to contest the polls”.
