PANJIM: Admitting that BJP cadres too are unhappy with the reservation process undertaken for the coming municipal elections, Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant said that the process has been done as per law and not to favour any political party.
The Urban Development Department, last week issued the notification reserving 102 wards for women, Schedule Tribes, Schedule Caste and Other Backward Classes in 11 municipal councils, for which elections are likely to take place next month.
The Opposition has slammed the government for the haphazard process which was undertaken without following proper criteria. Sitting councillors, across municipal councils, too have expressed their complete displeasure over the reservations and delimitation.
Responding to media questions on the same, the Chief Minister said that the reservation and delimitation process is undertaken by the Directorate of Municipal Administration (DMA) and government has no role to play in it.
When it was brought to his notice that within the BJP too there is unrest, Sawant said, “Yes and this shows that the reservation is done as per law and not to favour any political party.”
Several municipal councilors are expected to move the High Court challenging the reservation process.
The Congress has demanded that the reservation and delimitation process be handed over to the State Election Commission (SEC).
Five petitions in HC to be heard
on February 15
The High Court of Bombay at Goa will on Monday hear five petitions challenging the reservations of wards in municipal councils ahead of the polls in April. Sources said that the petitions, all filed separately, have questioned the manner in which the government has decided reservations in certain wards.
“The petitions are challenging reservations, but not the entire election process. It demands re-arranging of reservations,” a source said, denying giving details of the petitions.
It is learnt that the petitions will initially be heard separately after which the high court is likely to combine the grievances into one plea.
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Reservations could have been
done in better manner: Min
The government has found itself in a tight spot as its minister has raised questions on the reservations for the ensuing municipal council polls. Panchayat Minister Mauvin Godinho has opined that the process could have been chalked out in a ‘much better way’.
“Reservations of wards could have been done in a much better way. I was not in the know of what is happening absolutely,” he said while speaking to the media on Wednesday. He, however, refused to elaborate on whether the process adopted by the government is wrong, stating, “I will reserve my comments on that.”
The government, in the middle of controversy over alleged haphazard manner in which reservations have been finalised, is also witnessing its sitting councillors across municipalities expressing discontent.
Meanwhile, the Panchayat minister has instructed all panchayats to hold regular gram sabhas by following COVID-19 norms and guidelines. “I have given instruction to the director to ask panchayats to start gram sabhas as they would hold before the pandemic, but by following all the safety protocols. We have also received first tranche of funds through 15th Finance Commission in accordance to which, all panchayats have been asked to submit proposals related to developmental works in their respective areas as early as possible. Finance Department will release Grants-in-Aid to us,” he added.