PANJIM: Accusing the Election Commission of India (ECI) for making
mockery of postal ballot process in Goa, all opposition parties including the
former coalition partner in the BJP-led government- MGP, on Thursday
unanimously demanded cancellation of entire postal ballot held till date and
call for re-polling by EVMs for free and fair voting process.
All political parties this evening held a joint meeting to
discuss on the postal balloting process, which has been conducted in violation
of the ECI guidelines. Ruling BJP and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) were not part of
the crucial meeting, which was attended by Congress, Nationalist Congress Party
(NCP), MGP, Goa Forward party, Goa Vikas Party and Goa Su-Raj party officials.
Though Goa Suraksha Manch representative was not present for the meeting, it
has extended its support.
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There are total 15,590 postal ballots of which till date CEO
has received 9,579 ballots.
Addressing media persons post meeting, All India Congress
Committee (AICC) secretary Girish Chodankar said that the meeting has resolved
that ECI should immediately take suo-moto cognizance of the concerns raised by
the political parties and cancel the postal ballots held till date thereby
calling for fresh voting through EVMs for the government employees, deployed on
election duty.
“We are not against the postal ballot but what we feel is
that the ECI has made mockery of postal ballot system. The postal balloting of
over 35 days granted to these service voters defeats the purpose of free and fair
elections,” he said alleging that ruling BJP party candidates are threatening
and influencing the voters to vote in their favour.
Chodankar said that the issue is more in the interest of the
ECI than the political parties as the confidence of the people in the august
constitutional authority is more important for the health of Indian democracy.
The all party meet also charged Chief Electoral Office (CEO)
of leaking serial numbers of postal ballots to BJP, who in-turn
are misusing it to threaten and influence government employees.
Speaking on the occasion, Goa Forward spokesperson Durgadas
Kamat said that it is the duty of the ECI to fix a rational and reasonable
schedule for postal ballots. “The current manner of postal balloting cannot be
justified on any rational ground. On the other hand, it has brought disgrace to
the election process,” he stated
“There is something wrong in the functioning of CEO. We
demand that ECI should send its team to Goa and conduct inquiry into the entire
postal ballot process,” Kamat added.
NCP spokesperson Avinash Bhonsle pointed out that the
secrecy of the vote and voter is compromised as the identification of the voter
is possible on account of the serial numbers, which are been leaked to BJP
candidates. “The very conduct of ECI through its CEO office is under question.
The CEO office is working under influence of BJP government,” he charged.
The political parties also discussed on the sudden
enrollment of military personnel in the electoral roll, who were allowed to vote
in Navelim and Ponda. They demanded that ECI should also investigate into the
matter.
