PONDA: The locals of Ponda have issued a stern warning to the Director of Municipal Administration (DMA) and the State Election Commission (SEC) that they will be left with no choice but to take the matter to the High Court if errors in ward delimitations are not rectified. There are allegations of political interference in ward delimitations, and the affected aspirants have already decided to take legal action if necessary.
Several Ponda Municipal Council (PMC) councillors have spoken out about the issues with the ward delimitation and reservation process and have demanded that proper rectification is carried out. Councillor Venkatesh Naik highlighted that although some councilors had given suggestions and objections to the Assistant Returning Officer (ARO), the major objections were not taken into consideration during the process.
The geographical map of the ward does not match with the voter’s list, which means that voters’ houses are located in one ward, but they have been shifted to another ward. This has happened with every ward, making it difficult for councillors to develop their ward as voters may reside in another ward. The councillor stressed that this unnecessary shifting of voters has caused chaos.
He also highlighted the issue of ward reservations for ladies, which generally differs from the rules and requires rectification.
He said wards 6 and 7 were kept twice for the general category, and this time, it was expected to be reserved for ladies or OBC, but this was not the case, he added, calling it an injustice to voters.
It is the norm that after reserving any ward for ladies, it is kept for the general or Other Backward Class (OBC) category for the next two terms, which means men can contest from such wards. Councillor Pradeep Naik pointed out that ward number 8, which he represents, has been reserved for ladies and OBC aspirants three times, which should have been reserved for the general category, but that has not happened.
