The person who had been identified or the post, Narayan Navti, a former member of the government service who has experience in holding elections as Additional State Election Officer, has conveyed to the government that he does not fit the bill, as he has 18 years of service in the civil service as against the 20 years that the rules mandate.
Navti has practically been the fulcrum around which the election process has been conducted in the past and would bring a lot of experience to the post and knowledge of the rules which is crucial. As the government scours around for another suitable person to appoint, time runs out as election day looms near. The new State Election Commissioner, when appointed will not only have to get to work from the first minute of his taking charge, but will have to conduct himself with honours. On March 20 are the elections to the Corporation of the City of Panaji, five other municipal councils, Navelim zilla panchayat by-election and a number of panchayat by-elections. Simultaneously, he or she will have to, before the end of the month, announce the schedule to the elections to the five municipal councils that stand postponed.
Very critical at this point is to maintain the independence of the commission that has been severely compromised by the happenings of the past few weeks. Goa would not have been in this mess had the State Election Commission maintained its autonomy, staying away from government and political interference. This is what is expected from it as the commission is an independent body constituted solely for the purpose of conducting free and fair elections in the State. Goa does not expect anything other than that from the commission. The State, therefore, requires a non-partisan State Election Commissioner. Will whoever is appointed deliver in the current circumstances? Perhaps we will find the answer to that question in the coming days.
One major decision that the new State Election Commissioner has to take is on the counting of the votes. For the elections to be held on March 20, the counting has been scheduled on March 22. But, with elections to five municipal councils now standing postponed to April, would it be advisable to have the counting of the March 20 polls on March 22? Wouldn’t the results influence the voters who will go to the election booths a few weeks later? To avoid this advantage and influence, the best solution would be to hold the counting of votes of all municipal elections and by-polls on the same day. In effect it means that the counting of the polls of March 20 would have to be postponed to be held on the same day as of the rescheduled elections.
The new SEC has to decide on this and on other of issues impartially. For that the person who comes to occupy that post should be totally apolitical. It is this decision – on the counting of votes – that will indicate right at the beginning of the new incumbent’s term his independence from government interference. In effect, the SC has upheld the need for free and fair elections. This will be possible only if the State Election Commission under the new Commissioner purports itself freely and does not remain shackled to the government. All eyes, from now till the end of the current election process, are now on the State Election Commission.
