Goa’s Acting Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Narayan Navti has sought further directions from the Election Commission of India ( ECI) on the complaint seeking the deletion of the name of Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar from the electoral roll of Panaji Assembly Constituency. As directed the CEO has forwarded to the ECI a report received from the Panaji Deputy Collector and Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) Mr. Naveen S.L. The ERO in his report has stated that the name of Manohar Parrikar was enrolled as resident of House No 157, Opposite Pharmacy College, Panaji in 2005 with the Election card made on 6/11/2005 with 25 persons enrolled at that household including that of Manohar Parrikar with the name of Raju R. Naik as the head of the family. The ERO has also stated that the draft electoral rolls were recently published on 15th of October this year inviting objections and that no one had objected to the name of Manohar Parrikar. The Booth level officer Leena Noronha in her report has stated that Manohar Parrikar receives the Official Gazette at House No 157, Opposite Pharmacy College, Panaji where he resides and is enrolled as a voter. It has now been pointed out to the Chief Election Commissioner that a perusal of the ERO’s report reveals that it is not a factual report but very politically manipulated to try and high-handedly shield Manohar Parrikar. The ERO has attempted to shelve the complaint of the illegal inclusion of the name of Manohar Parrikar in the electoral roll on a fake address. The ERO has not cared to factually ascertain whether Manohar Parrikar infact resides at that address. The attention of the Election Commission of India has been drawn to the fact that the residential address of Manohar Parrikar on his passport, driving licence and all other government records is shown as House No. 12/182 Khorlim - Mapusa - Goa. The staff of the electoral office are duty bound to discharge their duties strictly within the parameters of law without fear or favour. But as acting Chief Electoral Officer of Goa Mr. Narayan Navti is himself currently under the scanner of the Vigilance department for his alleged fake educational degree, there is apprehension that Mr. Navti may bow down to the extraneous political pressures to save his own skin.
Posted on: Sun, 23 Nov 2014 07:33:21 +0000