HERALD - 16 September, 2011 - Page 4 News
GRA to back clean candidates at Assembly polls
TEAM HERALD
[email protected]
Panjim: Goemchea Rakhondarancho Awaz [GRA], has plans to be a much needed
'catalyst' during the upcoming Goa Legislative Assembly elections, by giving
opportunity to clean and grass-root level aspirants, willing to contest the
election. Addressing a press conference, GRA member Adv. Antonio Lobo said
that Awaz is working towards a system, wherein all the 40 constituencies
would be made part in appointing and electing a candidate of their choice
for the election. "For this process to be initiated, a minimum of there
individuals must show their willingness to come forward to contest the
election, where spending power will not be the criterion. Of the three
aspirants, people would be given an opportunity to vote and shortlist their
final candidate," Adv. Lobo said. He further added saying, 'we won't be
appointing any candidates, as there are already several people, who are
willing to contest. In each constituency, we would make sure that we give
three of the best'. When asked whether GRA called itself a political
entity, Adv. Antonio Lobo, who is also the legal advisor, said, "The
organization is not political for now, but at the same time it doesn't claim
to be 'apolitical". Adv. Lobo said that GRA is also going to be a
'catalyst' at Panchayat and municipality elections, as it feels that these
institutions are mostly driven by self-interest, where development suffers.
"The mission of GRA is to help being about a positive change in the way Goa
is governed from the grass-root level to the legislative level. We will
ensure that the change will be transparent, equitable, disciplined,
committed." he added. Earlier, Adv. Lobo recalled that during the public
meeting held at Azad Maidan on March 31, GRA had passed three resolutions -
to work towards 'special status for Goa on the lines of Nagaland, Manipur,
Mizoram, where state's identity and limited land and other resources are
protected, preserved and nurtured.
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Calls for sanitizing electoral rolls
Working over one of its resolution, Goemchea Rakhondarancho Awaz [GRA] has
initiated a process towards sanitization of the electoral roll of
questionable voters, which may have been fraudulently included as part of
vote-bank politics. As part of the process, sample of 15 constituencies
across Goa namely, Mormugao, Ponda, Margao, Panjim, Mapusa, Cortalim, St.
Cruz, Cumbarjua, Taleigao, Porvorim, Aldona, Saligao, Calangute, Siolim and
Tivim are being scrutinized in details for the inclusion of illegal voters
on the basis of double registry in the electoral roll.
