TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: The Congress party has written to the Election Commission of India (EC) requesting it to re-schedule the Panjim Assembly by-election scheduled for February 13, as it clashes with the State’s annual Carnival which be held on February 14.
The election code of conduct is currently in force in North Goa and will continue till February 16, the counting day.
The party has also urged the EC to reschedule the counting date of Delhi by-elections and keep it along with the Panjim by-election, as there was every possibility that Delhi results could influence the Panjim by-election. The Delhi elections are scheduled on Feb 7 and counting has been scheduled for Feb 10.
“It is surprising that the election dates (fixed by the EC) for Delhi and Panjim, do not take into account the possibility of voting at one place influencing the other,” Congress general secretary Altinho Gomes said in his letter to EC and State Chief Electoral office.
“Any possibility of elections in Delhi influencing Panjim by-election therefore should be avoided,” Gomes said.
Earlier, addressing media persons, Congress spokesman Agnelo Fernandes said that the Panjim by-election dates are clashing with the annual Carnival, to be held on February 14 and hence the by election should be postponed. “Since the election code of conduct will be in place, the Carnival cannot be held in the city. The EC should have consulted State government before announcing the dates,” he said.
In the past, Congress party had managed to get the State Lok Sabha elections 2014 advanced to April 12 from April 17, which was Maundy Thursday, which is part of the Easter Triduum observed by Catholics.
The Panjim by-election was necessitated due to the resignation of former Panjim MLA Manohar Parrikar.
, who became the country’s Defence Minister, in November.
Congress has fielded city Mayor Surendra Furtado against BJP’s Siddharth Kunkolienkar in a straight contest for the seat.
