Goa Congress demands removal of state election officer, new poll date

Panaji: The Congress Goa unit today demanded immediate transfer of a senior state election officer claiming that he is close to BJP in the state. [caption id=“attachment_1422017” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  AFP[/caption] The party has also demanded that Goa Lok Sabha elections, scheduled on April 17, should be postponed since it is Maundy Thursday, a holy day observed by Catholic community. Goa Pradesh Congress Committee president John Fernandes told reporters here that state joint chief electoral officer Narayan Navti was “often seen on BJP dais.” He has been sharing dais with BJP candidate Narendra Sawaikar (from South Goa Lok Sabha seat), Fernandes claimed. The Election Commission of India should immediately remove him from the post for free and fair Lok Sabha polls, the Congress leader demanded. The party would be writing to the ECI pressing for his removal immediately, he said. He also noted that the ECI’s decision to hold elections in Goa on April 17 was dependent on the advice by its local officer. “The ECI should investigate the conduct of the officer,” Fernandes added. PTI