They also hold different opinions about the number of wards. Some feel the present number is enough, while others want new wards to bring uniformity of votes in each ward.
“If the intention is to balance the voters by distributing all the wards equally, then the process is acceptable. However, if the leaders in power are eying to target few individuals and are planning to cut down their vote share by incorporating new voters in the list deliberately, then the same is objectionable. The election commission should ensure that the process is done under them and not leaving the same under the political leaders who then makes things a mess,” said Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) Chairperson Lavina D’ Souza.
With the MMC set to hold municipal elections later this year, the issue of delimitation has become the talk of the town for the last two months. The elections in Vasco will see a record number of aspirants, including a few journalists. However, they are puzzled about the delimitation process.
“We only suspect that the leaders in power will not allow the delimitation process to happen in a transparent manner. There are rumours that few politicians have already prepared the list of councillors whom they want to get replaced with the candidate supported by them. If it true, it will be the murder of democracy as they are intending to cut down votes by bifurcating the ward as per their wishes,” said MMC opposition leader Neny D’Souza.
According to MMC Chief Officer Melvyn Vaz, the council in its special meeting on June 12, 2014 adopted a resolution seeking consent from the Director of Municipal Administration (DMA) to increase the municipal wards from 20 to 25. The then CO Meghnath Porob sent a proposal on September 10, 2014 along with the council’s resolution.
“We are yet to receive the consent, after which the process of delimitation of wards will commence,” said Vaz.
Meanwhile, locals demanded that the delimitation process be done in a transparent manner under the guidance and control of the election commission and not by local officers who may sing the tune of politicians.
“It is a tradition now. Politicians always attempt to cut down the support base of others only to accommodate their favourite candidates. This time, the citizens won’t fall for it. If the government wants to go ahead with delimitation just to balance the vote share, then it’s correct. However, if there is some other motives, then the citizens will not tolerate the same and possibly react through agitations,” said senior politician and Vasco citizen Vaman Chodankar.
Surprisingly, a few senior city councillors stated they did not mind if politicians interfered in the process. “All is well in politics, and as a politician they have every right to interfere, but they should take councillors and people into confidence,” said former chairperson and present councillor Shekhar Khadapkar.
