TEAM HERALD
bureau@herald-goa.com
PONDA: Ponda Vikas Samiti (PVS) demanded the transfer of Ponda Municipal Council (PMC) Administrator Nayaran Navti and Ponda Deputy Collector Johnson Fernandes to enable impartial elections to the PMC on May 12.
According to information, a complaint in this regard has been made to the authorities and PVS has threatened to move court if no action is taken on their request.
PVS President Rama Kunkoliekar said media reports claimed both officers shared the dais with Ponda MLA Lavoo Mamledar during a press briefing where Mamledar urged residents to support candidates fielded by Ponda Citizens Committee and expressed confidence in winning all 14 seats.
“This is a clear evidence to prove that both these officers are closely associated with MGP and the MLA and hence there is every possibility that both the officers will favour the candidates fielded by the Ponda Vikas Samiti,” stated Kunkoliekar while addressing media at Ponda along with PVS members John Pereira, Arun Gudekar and Ashok Naik.
“Government officers cannot be part of any press conferences organised for the purpose of election canvassing. To have a free and fair election, it would be wise to transfer the officers. If there is no action taken, then we will be forced to approach the judiciary,” he warned.
He said they have already written to Chief Election Officer Goa, Chief Election Commissioner of India and the Governor to look into the issue. “PVS was formed recently and we will support good candidates in all the 14 wards,” said Kunkoliekar.
It may be recalled that on April 14, Mamledar had addressed media in Ponda along with PMC Administrator Nayaran Navti and Chief Officer Johnson Fernandes to brief on efforts taken by PMC on managing garbage and also his future developmental plans for the city.
