Panaji (Goa): Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar today criticized the Election Commission of India (ECI) stating that “when constitutional authorities become absolute power, then can become more corrupt than politicians.”

“For two and half month (of election process for Goa assembly polls), the election commission has given a bill of Rs 16.80 crore. They were going around with the vehicles. (I am) Very sorry to say, I don’t like to criticize constitutional authorities, but when constitutional authorities become absolute power they can become more corrupt than politicians,” Parrikar said today referring to the conduct of officials attached to Chief Electoral Officer during recently held State Legislative Assembly election.

“Polticians have to come before you (people) every five years. I have to answer media, rightly or wrongly, 24 hours. If anything happens politician has to answer,” he added while addressing a function organized by state run-Economic Development Corportion today.

“If garbage is dumped on the road, politician has to answer. Actually, the garbage is dumped by some hotel or some locals. I don’t mind this but but this kind of accountability has to be there everywhere (even in constitutional authorities),” the Chief Minister said.

Pointing out to the delay in holding election in some wards of panchayat due to the High Court order which had dereserved the ward and then subsequently Supreme Court quashing the HC order, Parrikar questioned “who should be held responsible for the delay in the election in these wards?.”

“There is no accountability on State election commission. If politicians were responsible for the delay, he would have been criticized. Politician is a very easy to be targeted,” he said.

Parrikar has locked horns with the ECI in the past after he was censured for his statement allegedly promoting bribery in voting. Then Defence Minister was accused of asking the voters to accept the bribe to vote, the statement which was denied by him later.

He had said that his Konkani speech was wrongly translated by officials of ECI.

Team TNV