Team Herald
MARGAO: Candidates who could not file nominations to the by-polls due to change in reservation policy have emphasised that they have not given up the battle to change the reservation procedure as their fight would continue in court.
It may be recalled that Rozer Afonso and Jose Pereira had filed their nominations from ward number 5 and 7 of Betalbatim panchayat respectively when the wards were in normal category following the High Court order on their petition that the reserved wards of Betalbatim village be declared in general category.
However, the government appealed against this order before the Supreme Court which ordered that the wards would remain as reserved and referred the matter back to the High Court to hear it on merit.
The duo said that they were fighting the battle in court and were confident that the decision would go in their favour and were keen to contest the elections again after the de-reservation of the wards.
Both Jose and Rozer insisted that they were still in the fray although unable to contest the elections scheduled on 1st July.
They also failed to understand how three wards could be reserved for OBC when the total OBC population in the village was only 4.7 per cent.
