Team Herald
PANJIM: In further embarrassment to the panchayat election process, three days into the campaign several candidates have been asked by the Returning Officer (RO) to exchange their election symbol.
In ward 9 of St Cruz panchayat, candidates have been asked to sign on withdrawal of election symbol which was issued on Tuesday by the RO.
Naresh Salgaonkar, who is contesting from the ward objected to the move and said it is a mockery of election process. “I have campaigned in a ward with the alloted symbol, also printed the manifesto and election slips and have spent money,” Salgaonkar said.
He has not signed the withdrawal of election symbol and demanded that the election process be free and fair. Salgaonkar has also petitioned the State Election Commission (SEC) for intervention to resolve the matter.
All the ward candidates were called on Thursday by RO Sapana Bandodkar to tell them of the error in alloting the election symbol. But since the candidates have already commenced their campaign they have objected.
An issue of the similar nature has occurred in Curca-Bambolim panchayat and is yet to be resolved.
