EC asks Goa CM to defer induction of new minister

Panaji, May 4: Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar and the Election Commission are at loggerheads over the proposed induction of a new minister in the cabinet.

While Parrikar today said he will induct Alina Saldanha in the cabinet, the state chief electoral officer has asked the chief secretary to defer the induction, as it will affect level-playing field for the Cortalim bypoll.

Alina, wife of former state tourism minister Matanhy Saldanha in Manohar Parrikar-led cabinet, is tipped off to be BJP candidate for forthcoming June 2 Cortalim by-election necessitated after demise of her husband. She is scheduled to be inducted in the cabinet on May 8.

“In my opinion, the alleged proposal, if any, tends to project a contesting candidate which would disturb the level playing field,” Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) S Kumarswamy has said in his letter to Chief Secretary Sanjay Srivastava.

The CEO has requested that chief secretary to take up with the state government to defer the induction, till bypoll is over.

RTI activist Aires Rodrigues had today lodged a complaint with the Election Commission of India (ECI) claiming that induction of Alina amounts to violation of code of conduct.

Earlier in the day, Parrikar, told reporters that Constitution of India empowers him to induct anyone in his cabinet, provided he/she is elected to the house within six months. “The question is whether Constitution is important or Code of Conduct, which is not even a legal document,” the chief minister commented.

Responding to the claim that induction would amount to influencing the voters, Parrikar said, “You have to influence the voter when you are contesting an election. What is an election manifesto meant for? Only issue is that one should not take undue advantage.”