PANJIM: The government on Monday announced June 17 as the new tentative date for the elections to 186 village panchayats. The government last week had announced the election date as June 25, following which there were objections as it would lead to a dry day on the traditional San Joao festival celebrated annually on June 24. 

The five-year-term of the panchayats ends on May 20 and the State Election Commission had earlier proposed to hold the elections on May 21.

Panchayat Minister Mauvin Godinho Monday morning reviewed preparations for the elections and met with Chief Minister Manohar 

Parrikar, wherein it was decided to hold the elections on June 17.

“We had initially decided to hold elections on June 25 but then it was realised that the date clashes with the traditional San Joao festival. The new date is most likely to be June 17,” Godinho said adding there is no question of holding elections before the term expires. 

The Minister said that since the election process, including delimitation, will be completed by this month-end, the government preferred to hold elections in advance.

Godinho said that the State Election Commission (SEC) has been consulted on the revised date, and has agreed upon it. “I had directed Director Panchayats to hold consultations with SEC on the revised date and accordingly, its consent has been granted,” he said. 

Meanwhile, Directorate of Panchayats has extended the deadline for submitting detailed reports on ward delimitation to April 28. Speaking to Herald, Panchayats Director Sandhya Kamat said, “The department has decided to give extension till April 28 for submitting the detailed report about ward delimitation because there is some pending work in terms of population tally”. The actual date for submitting this report was on April 18. 

The Chief Minister last week had announced that the canvassing period would be reduced from 15 to 10 days, while the election code of conduct will be enforced for 20 to 22 days prior to the election date. 

Parrikar had justified the postponement of the polls saying that most government employees will proceed on leave in April-May and the State also say a series of bureaucratic reshuffles in the last few days. The busy schedule during the State Assembly election period was another reason attributed to the delay.

As reported earlier, the wards have increased in almost 17 village panchayats due to the increase in population. In some panchayats wards have increased from 7 to 9 and from 5 to 7.

Congress had protested against the postponement of the polls and had submitted a representation to the SEC. The party had accused the government of trying to “manipulate the tenets of democracy” by putting off elections. It had also pointed out that the traditional Sao Joao festival will be impacted by the election code which would be in force.