Panaji: The Election Commission has asked Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar not to go ahead with the proposed induction of the wife of former Tourism Minister Matanhy Saldanha in the Cabinet before the June 2 bypoll.
Sources in the office of Chief Electoral Officer here said the Chief Minister has been told to put off the induction of Alina Saldanha till the bypoll process in Cortalim is over.
Goa CEO S Kumarswamy on Saturday had asked Parrikar to postpone swearing-in of Alina, who is the likely BJP candidate from Cortalim, scheduled for tomorrow.
The EC has said Alina`s induction will "disturb level playing field" (in the bypoll).
After the exchange of letters between the Goa Government and EC over the last couple of days, the poll panel has finally asked the CM to defer the induction, they said.
Parrikar`s argument that he has right under Article 164 of the Constitution to induct anyone he wants in his Cabinet has been partially accepted by the Commission.
The EC, it has been learnt, has told though it agrees with Parrikar`s argument, induction of Alina in Cabinet at this moment would amount to violation of code of conduct.
BJP has hinted that Alina will be their candidate from Cortalim constituency, earlier represented by her husband who passed away in March this year.
Sources in the State Government said they are still waiting for the Chief Minister`s decision on the issue.
PTI
