The election of the chairperson and vice-chair person of the South Goa Zilla Panchayat (ZP) on Tuesday sparked a political controver sy after voting figures pointed to cross-voting from within the Opposition, triggering a sharp blame game between the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). In the elections held ear lier in the day, BJP nominee Xeldem ZP member Siddharth Gauns Dessai was electedchairperson with 16 votes in the 25-member House, while BJP candidate Barcem ZP member Anjali Arjun Velip secured an identical tally to become vice-chair person. Congress candidate for the Chairperson post, Benaulim ZP member Luiza Rodrigues and Goa For ward Party’s (GFP) ZP Raia member Inacina Pinto for the Vice-Chairperson’s post polled nine votes each. Questions arose immedi ately as the BJP-led alliance was officially expected to bag 15 votes. The BJP had won 11 seats in the South Goa ZP. With the support of two MGP ZP members and two independents, the BJP side strength stood at 15. On the opposition side, the Congress held eight seats — seven from Salcete taluka and one from Khola in Quepem — while GFP had one more from Sal cete, taking their alliance’s South Goa tally to 9. Whereas, AAP had one member from Colva, taking the overall opposition tally to 10. With the BJP-backed candidates securing 16 votes, it became evident that one opposition member had cross-voted. However, as the election was held by secret ballot, the identity of the member who cross-voted could not be confirmed. Soon after the results, South Goa Congress Dis trict President Savio D’Sil va, along with Congress candidates, addressed the media and directly accused the AAP ZP member from Colva, Antonio Mam Fer nandes, of cross-voting in favour of the BJP. D’Silva alleged that AAP had consistently targeted the Congress while sparing the BJP, and said the voting had exposed AAP’s role. Responding to queries, he categori cally denied any possibility of cross-voting from the Con gress-led alliance, stating that all its ZP members were united and had voted together. Later in the day, Congress MLAs who met the Gover nor and spoke to the media outside the Lok Bhavan also rejected claims of cross-voting from within the Congress camp. They pointed out that the Congress–GFP alliance had nine members and maintained that all nine had voted for the Congress candidate. By underlining their intact numbers, the MLAs indirectly suggested that the cross-vote could only have come from outside their al liance. Congress State president Amit Patkar subsequently took to social media to reiterate the allegation, stating that the voting pattern had clearly shown cross-voting by AAP. The allegations were rebutted by AAP leaders. AAP Goa in-charge and Acting President Shrikrishna Parab rejected the Congress charge and instead alleged that the Guirdolim ZP member — whom he recalled was originally with the BJP and was inducted into the Congress at the last moment — was the one who had voted for the BJP. He maintained that AAP had voted against the BJP. AAP leader Valmiki Naik also criticised the Congress, dismissing the allegations against AAP and accusing the party of deflecting blame. Benaulim AAP MLA Venzy Viegas, who had campaigned for the AAP’s Colva ZP candidate, issued a strong denial, stating there was no question of AAP supporting the BJP. He criticised the Congress for making unsubstantiated al legations and recalled how AAP had consistently articulat ed its political position in the past, including its opposition to an alliance due to what he described as the Congress approaching the issue too late. Viegas reiterated that AAP had always opposed the BJP and its communal politics and would continue to do so. Following the elections, the newly-elected BJP chairper son and vice-chairperson were felicitated by party leaders. Addressing the media, Dessai, who has earlier served as vice-chairperson of the South Goa ZP, said his experience would help him run the body effectively. He assured that development works would be taken up in coordination with the government and that all ZP members would be taken into confidence
BJP SWEEPS ZP POSTS AMID CROSS-VOTING CHAOS
