Panaji, March 29 (IANS) The Congress Saturday demanded Goa's top poll officer be replaced, alleging his proximity to the chief minister and that he was sitting on complaints related to Model Code of Conduct violations.
Addressing a press conference, Congress spokesperson Durgadas Kamat claimed the office of the chief electoral officer (CEO) was not acting on three complaints the party filed, one of which was a serious accusation against two employees of the Chief Minister's Office canvassing on Facebook for the BJP.
"We have no confidence in chief electoral officer Keshav Chandra. He has been siding with the BJP and Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar. We are writing to the Chief Election Commission to replace him," Kamat said.
He added that more than 10 days have passed since the Congress in a written complaint accused joint secretary to the chief minister, Siddharth Kuncolienkar, and special assistant to Parrikar, Giriraj Pai Vernekar, of canvassing for the BJP via their Facebook accounts.
"Even after 10 days, there has been no action or even a response from the CEO's office," Kamat said.
This inaction, according to the Congress, was spurring other officials drawing salaries from the exchequer to campaign for the ruling political parties.
"Lyndon Monteiro, an official on special duty to the power minister, drawing a salary from public money, is campaigning for the Goa Vikas Party (GVP), a partner in the ruling coalition. He even addressed a press conference yesterday (Friday)" Kamat said.
The Congress also claimed Chandra is now being accused of irregularities committed during his his earlier stint as the chief executive officer of the controversial Lusofonia Games.
"The Lusofonia Games was the chief minister's pet project. His proximity to Parrikar at that time is now telling in Chandra's discharge of duties as chief electoral officer. Therefore, we have asked the CEC to replace him," Kamat said.
Gyanvapi Case: Worship will continue in Vyas basement, big decision of Allahabad HC court
The hearing of the case filed on 15 October 1991 by Pandit Somnath Vyas, Dr. Ramrang Sharma, and
People's wait is over and the most awaited show of the year 'Panchayat Season 4' has now been rel
JEE Main 2023 Session 2: JEE Mains April session is to be held in April next month. This exam is
Pakistan is hosting the Champions Trophy 2025, but Team India has already refused to go to Pakist
After the defeat in the elections of five states including Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, the Congress Wo
Swine flu toll 965 so far: Nadda
New Delhi, Feb 27 (IANS) There was no shortage of drugs to treat swine flu which has claimed 96
Watches worth crores of Team India all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who returned from Dubai, have been
The wait for the Eknath Shinde government cabinet expansion in Maharashtra is about to end. A sen
Hardik Pandya found a new love! Who is the cricketer dating after separating from Natasha?
After separating from Natasha Stankovic, cricketer Hardik Pandya's name is being linked with a Br
The bodies of 45 Indians killed in the Kuwait fire have been brought to India. The bodies were br
