Court issues notice on CCP election secrecy petition

Panaji: The North Goa district court on Thursday issued a notice to the state election commissioner, the returning officer and all the newly elected corporators of the city of Panaji in an election petition filed by advocate Vishnu Naik and three others seeking quashing of CCP elections on the grounds that secrecy was not maintained.

“Many voters approached us and conveyed their concerns. Each ballot is numbered and the same serial number is printed on the counterfoil. This happened for the ZP elections and the CCP elections. This is a form of intimidation of the voter,” said Utpal Parrikar, son of former chief minister Manohar Parrikar.

Parrikar floated a panel for the CCP election that was held on March 11. However, Panaji MLA Atanasio Monserrate’s panel secured a dominant victory, winning 27 of 30 seats.

The matter has been listed for hearing on Friday.

“The ballots may be sealed but once there is a doubt in the mind of the voter, he or she hesitates. The way the elections are held, the process is found wanting,” said Parrikar.

Naik, along with other petitioners Deiodita Pereira, Vaibhav Salgaonkar and Prashila Kunkolikar, is seeking quashing of the elections.