Team Herald
PANJIM: A sudden spurt of interest has been generated in the upcoming panchayat elections in Goa with the All Goa Kannada Mahasangh announcing its decision to contest the elections.
Reacting to the decision of the All Goa Kannada Mahasangh to field candidates in the panchayat elections tentatively due in June, Revenue Minister Atanasio (Babush) Monserrate said, “All are welcome, this is democracy and everyone is free to contest elections. Many Kannadigas are living in Goa.”
He, however, argued that it is not necessary that Kannadigas will vote for Kannadigas only. Asked whether in future there would be an MLA from among Kannadigas, Monserrate said there has been an MLA from Cortalim.
Monserrate insisted that this is a democracy and anyone can contest from anywhere. “You can contest from anywhere in Goa provided you are a voter. I too can contest Lok Sabha elections from any other State as I am entitled to contest (from anywhere) as a citizen of India,” he said,
He added, “There is no fear of (non-Goan MLAs) getting elected. They are finally elected by the people.”
Curtorim Independent MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco said, “People of Goa should remain united and foil such plans. We should be vocal for local. I don’t know whether this is part of a plan to create more differences. Last time one group came to create differences during Assembly polls and they divided votes,” he said, indirectly hinting at the Trinamool Congress Party (TMC).
Stating that any citizen is free to contest elections, Lourenco said that people from other States are free to come and reside in Goa but they should follow Goan culture and traditions. “They cannot tell us what we should do because we will not tolerate it. The happening is a challenge for people of Goa,” Lourenco said.
Former Chief Minister Churchill Alemao said that it depends on the people of Goa to decide the fate of such migrants contesting elections. He said that he is not against anybody coming to Goa for business but they should not get into politics. He said that Goa should remain for Goans and nobody should be allowed to destroy Goa’s identity. He said that though migrants have been enrolled as voters of Goa they cannot be called bhumiputras.
On Tuesday, All Goa Kannada Mahasangh honorary president Siddhana Meti had said they would float a panel of candidates for the upcoming panchayat elections in Goa. They plan to contest at least in villages with a strong Kannadiga presence.
