PONDA: The Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) President Girish Chodankar on Sunday accused the BJP Government at the Centre of controlling the Election Commission of India.
Addressing a Youth Congress convention at Shiroda, Chodankar said that earlier the Election Commission was in favour of conducting by-polls prior to Lok Sabha election.
However, Chodankar said, on conducting a survey in Mandrem and Shiroda assembly constituencies, the BJP found that its candidates would be defeated there; hence, the party is planning to postpone by-elections to these constituencies.
“BJP is sure to lose Shiroda seat as BJP workers are not attending to meetings of Subash Shirodkar,” he said.
Chodankar also claimed that the Goa Administration has totally collapsed due to which, he said, the people are suffering. “The administration is run by the Secretary to the Chief Minister; the policies of the government are declared by the Speaker, who is expected to be neutral, at flag hosting; taking cue from the government, the police have passed on the their duty to sentinels who are now harassing the public,” he said.
Coming down heavily on former Congressman Subash Shirodkar, Chodankar said despite being minister for many terms, he failed to solve the water needs of Shiroda constituency.
Alleging massive corruption in construction of the third Mandovi Bridge, Chodankar said that instead of Central Government, the Goa Government constructed the bridge through GSIDC to swindle money from the project.
Stating that installing electric poles on bridge at a cost of Rs 45 crore is a clear example of corruption, he said that the contract of this was directly awarded without issuing tenders.
Claiming that the government has borrowed loans to the tune of Rs 18000 crore, he said that due to this every Goan has burden of Rs 1.5 lakh on his head.
On the occasion, Margao MLA Digambar Kamat said that the government has failed to solve even minor problems of Goans. “This is the Historic moment for people of Shiroda to teach a lesson to BJP, which despite in minority, formed government and later took away Congress MLAs for gaining majority,” he said.
Commenting on a news report, Kamat said, “There was no truth in that report that MGP and Congress are coming together to form the government. The Congress Party will not support to MGP in Shiroda by-election.”
“We had won these (Mandrem and Shiroda) two seats in the last elections. Therefore, there is no question of supporting MGP in the by-election. If MGP wants to support us, then, they should first withdraw from government and then we can think over forming govt with them.”
