-------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Add your name to the CLEAN GOA INITIATIVE | | | | by visiting this link and following the instructions therein | | | | http://shire.symonds.net/pipermail/goanet/2005-October/033926.html | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- It was an election verdict with a difference. Many of the sitting councillors were consigned into the squalor filth and garbage that they had failed to clear during their terms.
Others shown the door were those indulging in musical chairs e.g Mormugao Municipality which had the dubious record of 11 Chairpersons during its five year tenure beginning 24th October, 2001 to 23rd October 2005. Obviously they had other gameplans -- "self development" and the voters showed them the door. It is difficult to figure which political party will form the ruling team, as Independents (at least as of now) could tilt the balance in most of the 11 Municipal councils which went to the polls yesterday registering over 77 % turnout. The victory pattern emerging as per reports last recieved from the various counting by this writer indicate as under: a)some candidates won just by one vote b) in husband wife duo contesting the wives seemed to win while their husbands bit the dust c) where sitting councillors changed wards either for fear of imminent defeat or because the rotation making their wards reserved for women many of them lost d) ST denied the reservation that they rightly deserved were successful in several general wards; showing that they are now a significant force to reckon with e) candidates who outstretched by six fold their election limits beyond the official Rs 15,000 mark ( unfortunately it is a riduculous limit given the rising costs of diesel and petrol and high tech campaining material (Rs 300/ Rs 400/- Rs 600/- for rexin type banners, food @ Rs 50/- per meal cold drinks @ Rs 80 per crate , 20 workers (minimum ) and Rs 100/- per day for each of them with food and refreshments during the 15 days of campaigning , costs of printing voters cards symbols and other advertising material chairs tables for counting day besides advertisements on the newspapers etc Besides in wards wher multiple contests workers were bought for a consideration --- highest bidder got the best workers f) candidates in the fray who got others to withdraw for a consideration " pay off " bit the dust while the withdrawing candidate made a fast buck g) there were several instances where the winning margins were less than twenty h) considerable infighting between the ruling Indian National Congress party and factionalism resulted in voters being confused on the official candidate i) with many of the new councillors being fresh and young faces some without even a record of having done any social work -- their victories were because of the infighting among the political party candidates. j) it is clear in the INC that party above individuals is clearly a misnomer in Goa MPs MLAs have excercised their clout to see the victories of their own candidates k) just five of the 11 Municipal councils have decisive victors who will form the ruling council in all others -- prospects of instability looms large l) eight councillors are non goans with less than 15 years domicile while twenty three are non goans with 15 years domicile. m) voters did not fall for gimmicks of panels For the senior legislators in the Goa Legislative Assembly who would normally be going to the polls in May 2007 unless advance earlier the message is clear -- there is a clear generation shift in the voting pattern it is time the 50+ age group reckon with the results -- their days are numbered seems to e >From reports now trickling In Margao notable losers were present Chairperson Dorris Texeira, Ethel Lobo, Caetano Barbosa .However Kamilini Poinguinkar was elected despite the challenge to oust her from her one time mentor and guide MLA Digamber Kamat. In Mormugao too losing candidates were Ms Tara Kerkar who had shifted from her earlier ward. Despite the fracas created last evening against the Polling officer for taking away a ballot box. In Mapuca the councillors faced a major debacle as of now with the prospects of just one likely to stage a comeback as per latest trends in the counting arena In Sanguem there were several new faces while the others who were involved in irregularities had to bite the dust In Bicholim the BJP panel made a clean sweep In Quepem the voters did not show much anger as registered in other constituencies despite a high turnout of 72% In Canacona the BJP has reason to cheer for its good prospects In Curchorem Cacora there was a case of husband wife winning, (there were earlier incidents in Panaji where such duos held the post) others were faring miserably In Pernem the Municipality which polled the highest votes 84% , it was a resounding victory for the INC backed candidates In Valpoi the results were a fractured verdict In Cuncolim the Urban Development Minister panel staged a comfortable victory, with the spouse to Deputy Superintendent of Police Mr Tony Fernandes registering a comfortable victory, while ex Chairperson Mr Ramesh Desai faced a shocking defeat. The highest voting percentage with 84.3% Pernem and lowest voting percentage 59 % Margao. The irony of elections in India is that the victorious representative is "first past the post" which translated means the one who scores the highest votes even in a multiple contest where 13 candidates stand with an electorate of 3000 odd votes and just 50 % votes are polled. Can the victorious candidate be called a "representative" of a ward when he polls a meagre 300 votes and wins??? Unless we change this system of first past the post to a winning candidate needing atleast 50% votes polled --to win an election this sought of money power and fly-by-night contestants will enter the fray to represent the electorate. The new Councils now constituted will last until October 2010. The BJP candidates did surprisingly well giving a clear indication that the party is down and not out. Time for the non performing INC NCP MGP combine to sit up and take note. >From the counting Hall at Fatorda GODFREY J I GONSALVES BORDA MARGAO GOA. 9822158584 [EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________________________________ Yahoo! India Matrimony: Find your partner now. Go to http://yahoo.shaadi.com