PANJIM: Candidates contesting the October 25 municipal council elections in Goa will have to declare their antecedents and their assets in an affidavit before the State Election Commission.
The government has introduced the rule through an amendment in the Goa Municipality Election Rules. All the candidates will have to compulsorily swear an affidavit on lines similar to the affidavits signed by candidates to the assembly and parliamentary elections, deputy Chief Minister Francis D’Souza also Minister for Municipal Administration told the State Legislative Assembly on Wednesday.
“The rules which are compulsory for the MLAs we are now imposing on councillors also,” D’Souza said, adding that it appeared that there were no rules at the lower level.
The minister said that councillors need thorough training on roles and responsibilities and therefore the government will create specific capacity building programmes for councillors who will be elected in the coming municipal polls.
More amendments to the Goa Municipality Act 1968 are in the proposal stage, and reforms in municipality governance will be introduced. The amendments will be ready by the next Assembly session, D’Souza said.
