The government desires to amend the Goa Panchayati Raj Act to allow the conduct of panchayat and zilla panchayat elections on party lines. Presently, though political parties, are not permitted to participate in panchayat and zilla panchayat elections, candidates normally owe allegiance to parties, but contest without the party symbol. However, if local government elections are fought on party lines, then the party will be able to control representative institutions down to the grassroots.
When the proposed amendment was mooted, the opposition Congress had said that it was not opposed to it. Then president of the GPCC John Fernandes had said that his party was not against the amendment, but was in favour, provided there is an anti-defection mechanism in place.
In states such as West Bengal, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, panchayat elections are contested on party lines and West Bengal has an anti-defection law to ban defections.
