PONDA: Upset with the Election Code of Conduct playing spoil sport at the Shigmo float parade in Ponda last year, which had to be stopped midway, artistes led by Dr Ketan Bhatikar have decided to write to the Election Commission and the Ponda Deputy Collector to extend the parade timing from 10 pm to 1 am.
The artistes complained that that last year the Election Code of Conduct was in force for Lok Sabha and Goa Assembly by-election, which led to the winding up of the float parade midway at 10 pm thereby depriving several artistes of their chance to perform.
Ponda residents and Shigmo artistes fear that this year too Election Code of Conduct for the Zilla Panchayat polls may ruin the Shigmo parade. They further claimed that there will be elections in 2022 as well.
Ponda artistes along with Dr Ketan Bhatikar and Curti Khandepar former sarpanch Deepa Naik addressing the media said the Election Commission should exclude Shigmo parade from Election Code of Conduct as the parade cannot wind at 10 pm as hundreds of artistes participate.
Bhatikar demanded that the Election Commission exclude the float parade from the Election Code of Conduct by extending the timing from 10 pm to 1 am. Since past many years, the parade has been organised and no untoward incident has occurred. Further, he said police can be deployed to ensure smooth conduct of parade.
He said that hundreds of artistes from across Goa participate in the floats, romtamel and folk dance. The youth start the preparations two months in advance and lakhs of rupees are spent on the float parade.
In Ponda, the Shigmo Float parade will be held on March 10.
