PANJIM: Newly-appointed State Election Commissioner R K Srivastava announced that elections to the 190 panchayats would be held in May.

The former State Chief Secretary took charge as Commissioner of Goa State Election Commission. The post fell vacant after the retirement of Dr M Modassir in December last. 

“The foremost task at hand is to hold the general elections to village panchayats in May 2017,” Srivastava said after taking over the charge. Thereafter elections will be held to the Ponda and Sanquelim municipalities in May 2018. 

“The Commission is a constitutional body and endeavours to conduct elections to local bodies in an impartial, fair and smooth manner, by observing provisions of election laws,” Srivastava said.  

He said that in addition to conducting elections to local bodies, the Commission also functions as a quasi-judicial body when it comes to deciding and disposing appeals with regard to disqualification of members contesting the elections.

Srivastava in the past has officiated as Chief Electoral Officer, Delhi, Daman and Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli. He served as State CS from October 2014 to December 2016. 

The State Election Commission is responsible for supervising, control and superintending for holding elections to panchayats, municipalities, Zilla Panchayats and the Municipal Corporation of Panjim.