TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: Last ditch attempt to convince Panchayat Minister Dayanand Mandrekar to do a re-think on the controversial decision to hold ensuing Zilla Panchayat polls on party lines came a cropper on Wednesday, even as Mandrekar said he is of the firm opinion that the government should fully back the Zilla Panchayats with funds and powers since they have come to stay.
At a function held to mark the inauguration of the South Goa Zilla Panchayat office premises at the Old Collectorate building here on Wednesday, South Goa Zilla Panchayat Chairperson Nelly Rodrigues made a humble plea to the Panchayat Minister to do a re-think on the controversial decision, but in vain.
After the function, convenor of the Goa Panchayat Raj Forum J Santan Rodrigues made a fervent plea to roll back the government decision, but the Minister conveyed a message loud and clear that the government decision on the issue is final.
“I do not think that holding ZP or Panchayat elections on party lines will affect the villages as is made out in certain quarters. It is an open secret that political parties and MLAs had been fielding their candidates at these elections over the years. On the contrary, I feel that holding elections on party lines will ensure stability at these Panchayat bodies”, Mandrekar said.
The Panchayat Minister openly batted for the devolution of additional funds for the Zilla Panchayats since they have come to stay now. “There’s been talk that Zilla Panchayats were not required in a small state like Goa. But since the ZPs have come to stay, it is the duty of the government to support these district panchayat bodies with funds”, he said, while promising to do justice to the Zilla Panchayats during his tenure.
Earlier, ZP Chairperson Nelly Rodrigues made a strong pitch for devolving additional departments to the ZPs as per the 73rd Constitutional Amendment, while ZP member Daya Pagi raised apprehensions that holding ZP elections on party lines will leave the villages divided on party lines.
