PANJIM: The Office of the Chief Electoral officer (CEO) has informed the Election Commission of India (ECI) about the Panjim assembly constituency seat having fallen vacant with demise of sitting MLA and chief minister Manohar Parrikar.
Parrikar, who was suffering from pancreatic cancer since last one year, died on March 17 evening. Final rites on his mortal remains were performed on Monday evening.
Speaking to Herald, CEO Kunal, IAS, said that a communication has been sent to ECI on Monday informing about the death of sitting Panjim MLA and that the seat has now fallen vacant. “Panjim will go for by-elections but the date it, for the ECI to decide,” he said.
State will be going for by-elections in three Assembly constituencies- Mandrem, Shiroda and Mapusa on April 23 along with Lok Sabha polls.
CEO declined to say whether the by-election for Panjim could be also held simultaneously as the notification announcing poll scheduled is yet to be released.
Parrikar was first elected as MLA from Panjim in 1999 and since then he has been the undefeated king of the constituency.
