The heat and dust raised over the decision to postpone the Corporation of the City of Panaji’s mayoral elections refused to settle down even the day after, with both sides digging in their heels and promising to take the battle to its logical end, finds Team Herald
Oppn throws punches
Livid at suffering defeat from the jaws of victory, St Cruz MLA and Atanasio Babush Monserrate tore into the chief minister Manohar Parrikar’s explanation of the postponement of the mayoral polls and need for amendments, saying that the CCP Act itself was drafted during the previous Parrikar led BJP government’s stint.
“His very AG had drafted it. It was during his government’s time,” he insisted, implying there should not be any amendments.
Regarding the major contention that the Mayor’s elections should be held at the first meeting of the calendar year, Monserrate said that the corporations elections itself were held in March and so how on earth could the elections be held in January?
“The Congress party did not bring any amendment ~ not even one clause was changed. And when he was in Opposition he (Parrikar) did not bring any objection. Now what was the sudden hurry?” he asked, arguing that reservations are only done when elections are coming up.
Reacting to allegations of corruption, he said that he “challenged anyone if they can prove that Babush has benefited from the CCP. If they do I will resign,” he said, adding that when Parrikar was in Opposition, he was making noise about corruption in the CCP ~ specifically about the market issue, but now in the past year after his panel was ruling at the corporation what was done besides appointing a retired man named Agrawal? he asked.
Rudresh Chodankar, one of the leading lights in his panel told media that he did not expect the chief minister to come down to this level.
“A person should know how to take both victory and defeat. Hope better sense prevails,” he said.
Surendra Furtado, Mayoral frontrunner lashed out at the chief minister and Panjim MLA Manohar Parrikar calling him a “sore loser.” He also said that the CCP Act was framed by Parrikar when he was the CM in 2002 and the first elections to the Mayor and Deputy Mayor’s post were held under his government’s tenure.
“The last election to the Mayor’s and Deputy Mayor’s post was held during the current tenure of his present government. If as per the CM statement, “the elected corporators shall elect the Mayor/Deputy Mayor at the first meeting”, then why was this procedure not followed during the last Mayor’s election when Vaidehi Naik who headed his panel was elected as the Mayor of CCP?” questioned Furtado.
He argued that this act of postponing of elections proves that the CM could not digest that the Corporation had slipped out of his grasp when he is the CM and Panjim MLA.
Furtado also pointed out that the issue of reservation of Mayor’s or Deputy Mayor’s post could be done only before the holding of CCP polls when the exercise of reservation of wards for women and OBCs/STs are carried out and not midway during the current tenure of the Corporation.
“This exercise of reservation is similarly carried out for all other Municipalities and Panchayats only after proper study of the respective percentage of OBCs/STs is done,” said Furtado.
Furtado also said that the people of Panjim who were watching had lost all respect for their MLA and would teach a lesson to CM if he did not hold the elections immediately.
Kabir Makhija, corporator, calling the act a “mockery of democracy,” said that the chief minister just could not accept the fact that “he had lost the majority.”
‘This delay means that they are encouraging horse trading; and by doing this they have totally lost the respect of the people. Being the MLA and CM he should not stoop to such levels. This is disrespecting the people of Panjim,” he said.
Ruling group defends its position
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar Thursday accused Atanasio Babush Monserrate of wanting the corporation as “it is a hen laying golden eggs.” He also reiterated his position saying that the elections were rescheduled because some amendments had to be made to the CCP Act 2002.
“The noise is being created over the CCP elections as if they are general elections for the corporation. The elections are merely for the post of Mayor and deputy Mayor,” Parrikar said replying to the general discussion on the budget today in the State legislative assembly in a bid to trivialize the issue.
“Is Babush Monserrate telling about the democracy? They did not hold elections for the sub committees when they were ruling. Some people think that Panjim council is a hen laying golden eggs,” he said.
The chief minister who is also the local MLA also warned against corruption in the CCP, arguing that whatever may be the result of the elections, he would never allow illegalities and corruption and apparently, disturbed over the behaviour of the opposition benches Wednesday. He questioned, “Where was Monserrate’s democracy when I was undemocratically thrown out of the chair during my earlier tenure?” “Where were you when my government was tackled undemocratically,” he questioned.
Meanwhile, BJP legislators Subhash Phaldessai and Michael Lobo, the South and North Goa district committee presidents respectively hit out at Congress MLA Babush Monserrate for his statement that he would reduce the BJP’s strength in the house to just 15.
“We have no intentions of controlling the CCP body. The CCP is a local self-governed body. The Congress MLA believes that anything and everything can be controlled by money and muscle power,” Phaldessai alleged.
“Let Babush Monserrate take charge of his own nine MLAs, four of whom are looking towards the BJP before making claims of reducing BJP’s numbers from 21 to 15,” Phaldessai said.
North Goa President Michael Lobo also chipped in saying that none of the BJP MLAs are out to be purchased. “None of us are out to be bought,” Lobo said, with Phaldessai adding, “We are all one; we will stay together for five years.”
The two also hit out at the Congress for disrupting the proceedings in the House over a local body election and termed it a desecration of the sanctum sanctorum of democracy.
Ironically, their party members have used the same tactics in Parliament in New Delhi. When asked whether the fight for the ruling of the council was due to the fact that a lot of money will be spent through the CCP over the next few years in view of the development projects, Phaldessai said that the money was in any case in their hands.
“By the fact that we are ruling, the sanctioning of state money to local bodies is in our hands. We are here for a mission not a commission,” he said.
Incumbent Mayor Vaidehi Naik, when asked for her reactions said, “Sorry I cannot talk to you I am at a function.”
Shubam Chodankar, who had filed for the mayor’s post as well as the dy mayor’s post from the BJP backed panel told media that he himself was not aware about the postponement but expressed confidence that their panel would retain their hold over the CCP.
“We are confident of winning. Whenever the elections are held, we will win,” he said, adding, “I had filed for both mayor as well as deputy mayor. The other contender who had also filed for mayor as well as Dy Mayor Tony Rodrigues was not available for comment.
Dr Oscar Rebelo from PINC – the third force that also had contested the CCP elections said, “I am saddened and angry that CCP Mayor’s election is postponed for the flimsiest of reasons. The ruling panel must realise that it’s better to lose honourably than resort to these shady and dishonourable tactics.”
