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| | | | | Comments On News Reports | | | The Crying need to shield local self-governing bodies from the influence of Political Patrons.
----- Original Message -----
From: floriano
To: Ashwin Tombat ; Herald ; Gomantak Times ; mytimesmyvoice@timesgroup.com ; vinayaknaik59@gmail.com ; Goan Observer ; news group goan ; devikasequeira@gmail.com ; Pamela D'Mello ; Vavraddeancho ixtt ; Sunaparant -2 ; goenkarnews@rediffmail.com ; goadoot@gmail.com ; navprabha@gmail.com ; pudharigoa@rediffmail.com ; tarunad@rediffmail.com ; audumber shinde ; goaworldtoday@gmail.com ; gulf-goans@yahoogroups.com ; Goa Goans ; canada goans ; goenchimxapotam ; moira-net@googlegroups.com ; dasyagoa@gmail.com
Sent: Thursday, March 04, 2010 9:06 PM
Subject: The Crying need to shield local self-governing bodies from the influence of Political Patrons.
In the past we have seen many a Municipalities, Panchayats and even Zilla bodies claiming as belonging to one or the other Political Parties. In fact, the very appelation ... 'Self-Governing Bodies' signify that these bodies are political in nature but non-partisan in every essence.
In the latest run up to the Zilla Elections which are scheduled for 7 March, 2010, we see newspapers headlines like:
"Do not vote for the Congress Party's candidate ---- Matanhy Saldanha"
"Asonora Sarpanch joins NCP"
"BJP does not support Churchill Alemao fielded Congress candidate"
etc. etc.
When these elections to self governing bodies are supposed to be outside the realm of political establishments, how come then this is allowed by the Goa State Election Commission?
It is no wonder that our Panchayats have become the dens of the Political Parties where the same routine tamashas which are happening in the Goa Legislative Assembly are reproduced in the Panchayats and Municipalities, more specifically the Panchayats around Goa, where instead of them being Gram Sabha friendly, they have become Gram Sabha hostile. This very fact has gone on deaf ears of the powers that be which is the Goa State Election Commission.
To cite an example, in the last Zilla Parishad Elections to the Moira (Zilla) Constituency, the winning candidate had printed and widely distributed an election time 'leaflet' with the candidate's photograhp at the top end corner on one side and the symbol "HAND' of the Congress Party on the other side. This was brought to my notice by the rival candidate who lost by a small margin.
I had drafted a letter complaint to the State Election Commission for the rival candidate, attaching a few of these leaflets, asking the Goa State Election Commission to disqualify the winning candidate by virtue of the printing and distribution of this leaflet. However, the rival candidate developed 'cold feet' and this matter was, perhaps, never brought to the attention of the Goa State Election Commission. If this complaint was filed, the Goa State Election Commission would be obligated to disqualify the winning candidate and declare the runner-up candidate duly elected. This singular action would have gone a long way in being a deterrent for such misuse of Political clout in the self-governing arena.
The Goa Su-Raj Party has always maintained that it will not influence or take part in the local self-governing body elections in any way. This determination was shown when the Party was formed where one of its founding members was the acting Sarpanch & Panch member of the village Panchayat of Moira and where, he was discouraged from re-contesting the Panchayat elections to give credence to the Party's belief that established ' Political Parties' should not actively take part in these elections.
The Goa Su-Raj Party is very conscious of the importance of these local Institutional bodies and the need to improve their general outlook in the unbiased way of conducting the affairs of these institutions, all for the benefit of the villages and urban areas concerned. This Party has ignored suggestions and even ridicules from
some of its well wishers and/or critics telling us to first get a foot-hold in the local Panchayat bodies before looking up to the Goa Legislative Assembly. We have let it rest as: "they do not know what they are talking about". Nevertheless, as mentioned above, that the local self-governing institutions must be shielded from partisan influences, the Goa Su-Raj Party's by-laws state the follwing:-
Quote
A member of the Party may seek to contest the local Panchayat, Zilla Panchayat or the Municipal elections. For this, the concerned member will have to obtain the N.O.C. from the Party Executive after filing an affidavit with the Party stating that 'if elected, he/she will tender his/her resignation from the Party membership.
Unquote
An exception shall be made to the rule that once a Party member resigns from the Party membership, that person can never again re-join the Party, whereas this particular member, will be able to re-join the Party where s/he left off, when not occupying the elected position any more.
Goa is not expected to march ahead into the developed world if its local self-governing bodies are not tightened up and geared towards delivering the goods that these are expected to deliver to satisfy the aspirations of the common people at large. For this to happen, the Goa State Election Commission will have to assert itself and be the dominant force to check-mate the 'political chicanery' which goes into the undermining the actual performances of these vital institutions.
Cheers
floriano
goasuraj
9890470896
www.goasu-raj.org
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It is not ENOUGH that GOOD n HONEST persons contest elections.
It is not ENOUGH that GOOD n HONEST voters elect good n honest persons.
GOA urgently needs 'HONEST SYSTEM of GOVERNANCE'.
Wherein, even a dishonest person is forced to be honest or to QUIT.
Only through PPS can such 'honest system of governance' be identified and accepted.
PPS=PEOPLE for POLITICAL SANITY
Be bold. Display the 'PPS' sticker on your vehicle today, to reject political madness tomorrow.
[Note: PPS stickers are available at CHAMPS Sports Shops - Mapusa-Panjim-Margao] |
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Goa Su-Raj Party has been in existence since 31/08/2000.
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