Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai has raised serious concerns over the electoral process ahead of the upcoming municipal elections, alleging large-scale voter deletions and a lack of transparency in delimitation and reservation planning.
Sardesai claimed that nearly 4,500 voters in his constituency have been removed from the electoral rolls without any clear explanation, terming the development as a potential case of disenfranchisement. He further alleged that the deletions appear to have disproportionately impacted areas where opposition support is strong.
The MLA also questioned the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, pointing out that there is no publicly available ward-wise data on Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC) populations. According to him, in the absence of verified demographic data, it remains unclear how reservation decisions for municipal wards are being determined.
Raising concerns over the delimitation process, Sardesai said that objections based on the principle of geographical continuity have not been adequately addressed. He noted that despite hearings and submissions by stakeholders, there is still no clarity on how the final ward structures have been approved.
He further expressed apprehension that elections are being scheduled without completing key procedural requirements, including the publication of demographic data necessary for implementing constitutional reservation norms under Article 243T. Sardesai emphasised that reservations must strictly reflect proportional population data, particularly for SC and ST communities.
The MLA also questioned the functioning of the State Election Commission, especially the phrase “in consultation with the government,” alleging that it could compromise the institution’s independence. He cautioned that proceeding with elections without full transparency and verified data could render the entire process legally vulnerable.
Sardesai stated that affected voters are currently being assisted in filing Form 6 applications to restore their names to the electoral rolls. However, he maintained that the broader issue of transparency and procedural integrity remains unresolved.
He added that legal action has already been initiated in the matter and stressed that the electoral process must remain free, fair, and strictly in accordance with constitutional provisions.
