Petition against Goa MLA's

PANJIM: Five separate petitions were filed in the High Court yesterday. While one petition each was filed against UGDP MLA Babush Monserrate, Independent candidates Anil Salgaocar and Vishwajeet Rane, two petitions were filed against Finance Minister Dayanand Narvekar calling in question their election to the state Assembly.

The 45 days period from the date of election as required under section 81 of the Representation of People's Act, 1951 for filing election related petition ended yesterday.

The Goa Assembly elections were held on June 2 and the results were declared on June 5.

According to reliable sources, while the petitions against Salgaocar, Rane and Narvekar dealt with alleged over-expenditure during the election campaign, the petition against Babush challenged the improper acceptance of his nomination paper and asked for his election to be declared void.

Naresh Shigoamkar of CPI (M) has alleged that Salgaocar dug 13 bore wells in seven villages in Sanvordem constituency and also provided ambulances to the villagers. In his petition Shigoamkar alleged that the total expenditure by Salgaocar during the election campaign was more than Rs 6 lakh, which is therefore more than Rs 5 lakh permitted to be spent during the elections by the Election Commission. He has alleged that Salgaocar has indulged in corrupt practice in his petition.

On the other hand, Puti Gaonkar in his petition against Rane has alleged that the junior Rane has distributed 600 wrist watches having symbols of aeroplane and his photos in the constituency. It is also alleged that Rane had distributed television sets and sewing machines to the people in his constituency Valpoi. Besides, he also allegedly held mahila melava at various places and the petitioner sited 10 instances when it was held at the supporters place.

It is learned that Somnath Zuwarkar in his petition has submitted that the election of Babush is liable to be declared void in view of the fact that his nomination paper was improperly accepted. Zuwarkar has stated that when Babush filed his nomination as a candidate set up by UGDP, he was a member of the Legislative Assembly, belonging to the Indian National Congress. He has further stated that the Returning Officer had no jurisdiction to allow Babush to produce either documentary evidence or affidavit to prove that he had become a member of UGDP and submitted that Babush's nomination was improperly accepted by the RO.

The petitions against Narvekar were filed by his political opponent during the elections Fermina Khaunte and Pradeep Khaunte.