----- Original Message -----
From: goasuraj
To: Ashwin Tombat ; Herald
Cc: vijayso...@gmail.com
Sent: Saturday, April 25, 2009 5:31 PM
Subject: Re: Change Electoral laws - Comments
COMMENTS:
Dear Editor,
Goa Su-Raj Party commends the author Shri. Eusebio Carvalho for his deep and
provoking thought process. Suffice it to say that most of the requirements
on the list have been met by this 'mini-election commission' which was
set-up in the year 2000, approximately 10 years ago. While agreeing fully to
all the points made, we would like to tick off the items on the list which
have already been incorporated:-
Item No. 1: The very being of this Party is against any sort of reservations
for anyone and for anything. It subscribes to the thought that the person to
be engaged for a job or offfice must be one hundred per cent capable,
irrespective of his religion, cast, social and economic position, colour of
the skin or sex. The Party believes that it is the overall national
responsibility to spend heavily on these weaker sections of population to
bring them up to the minimum required levels and then give preference to
these people over others on 'equal level' basis. This is explained to the
point in the party's Road Map for Goa in Chapter XXII (1) - Neglected
Citizens, thus:
[SCsm STs,& OBCs]
Right to land of the Gawda, Kunbi, Velip and Dhangar communities shall be
defended. Government shall invest heavily to provide infrastructures for
their education, culrual and socio-economic up-bringing so that they are
able to compete in the job market or otherwise, with the rest on equal
terms. Steps shall be taken to conscientize these communities of their role
in the society at large.
Item No. 3: A person having a criminal background or track record is
impossible to get past the gate post into the Party, forget about getting a
ticket to contest elections. This Party looks at the person and not the bag
of money s/he carries.
Item No. 6: This party preaches the 'NO SECOND TERM' theory. It makes sure
that its candidates file affidavits with the party that should they win,
they will not claim the party's ticket for the second term. The party has
made this impossible through its system of declaring its candidates for
constituencies. The 'CWC' which is 'Constituency Working Committee' is
headed by the 'president', who by virtue of occupying this post claims the
ticket. If elected as MLA, s/he cannot occupy the CWC post (Constitutional
provision: 'NO DUAL POSTS). Therefore, come next election, the incumbent MLA
cannot get the ticket. The CWC president does. The only way the incumbent
MLA gets the ticket to contest for the second term if the CWC President
AGREES. The party has nothing to do or say in this matter. However, there is
the constitutional ceiling on the THIRD TERM. i.e No one gets the ticket for
the 3rd. Consecutive Term.
Item No. 11&12: By virtue of the Article 38 of the Party's Constitution,
MLAs become in-elligible to hold the posts of OFFICE OF PROFIT. Needless to
say that this party is not looked at or is unpopular because of this Article
in particular and Article 34 in general, where the cabinet size is sealed
at less than 10 % i.e at 5, including the CM. But what aggravates the
situation is that none of these sensitive articles of the Constitution can
be ever amended. These are sealed forever. The only way these can be amended
is to change the name of the Party.
This Party believes that when it takes hold of the reins of Goa's
administration, [ which will be when the people of Goa are ready for it] it
will never let go. I would like to be optimistic on the figure of 99 per
cent portrayed by the author to make it 99.999999999999999999999999999999
per cent.
Thank you.
floriano
goasuraj
Change electoral laws
Eusebio Carvalho, Fatorda
After going through 'Voters' Code of Conduct' by Adelmo Fernandes (Herald,
28 March), I found it quite puzzling and not acceptable. The
Government/Parliament/Election Commission of India should immediately bring
in the following constitutional/electoral changes in the interest of the
general public and of voters:
1. Immediate withdrawal of all 'reservations', as our Constitution bestows
equal rights to all its citizens, irrespective of cast, religion, sex, etc.
Only one has to compete along with others.
2. Prescribe minimum compulsory educational qualifications for candidates
contesting elections for Parliament/Assemblies/ZPs/Municipalities and
Panchayats.
a) For Parliament and Assemblies, any recognised university degree, besides
LLB
b) For ZPs/Municipalities, any recognised university degree
c) For Panchayats, Std XII passed from Higher Secondary Board
3. Persons having criminal background of any type, leave alone conviction by
a court, should not be allowed to contest any election.
4. The person, once elected for Parliament/Assembly on a particular symbol
for a particular party, should not be allowed to resign for 5 years or, till
the Parliament or Assembly completes its term. If he/she does so, he/she
should be debarred for contesting elections for such institutions, at least
for 20 years.
5. There should be mandatory provisions in the law for
Parliamentary/Assembly Speakers to decide disqualification cases within a
period of 8 months from the date of receiving such complaints/cases.
6. No person should be allowed to contest elections for more than two terms
for the same institution/body.
7. No person should be allowed to contest any election after he/she attains
the age of 68 years.
8. No funds should be earmarked to any MP/MLA, in the name of development of
their constituency, so as to avoid likely misuse and misappropriation of the
same.
9. Pensions may be considered to the MPs/MLAs only after successful
completion of two terms and not one term, as at present.
10. Any elected person violating the Constitution should be
dismissed/disqualified forthwith by the concerned authority, empowered to
this effect, after holding a summary trial.
11. No MLA should be allowed to head any Board/Corporation and PDA.
12. Only 10 per cent of the total strength of MPs/MLAs in a
Parliament/Assembly, should be allowed to become ministers, including PM/CM.
After bringing the above reforms/changes in the system, into practice, the
Voter's Code clauses suggested by Adelmo Fernandes can be enforced. Then
more and more voters will throng to the election booths, to cast their votes
and you can be sure that the voting percentage will definitely go to 99 per
cent.
