PANJIM: With the panchayat ward delimitation and reservation process yet to be completed, Minister for Panchayat Mauvin Godinho hinted at possible delay in conducting elections to 186 village bodies, which is tentatively scheduled for June 4. The State Election Commission (SEC) will take a final call on elections date.
The State government has accepted the delimitation of wards finalised by the SEC. The wards are constituted considering the geographical contiguity and natural boundaries and number of voters. The SEC, however, is yet to receive file from the government for issuing notification.
Pending notification of delimitation, the reservation of wards, which will be done based on the composition of population — General, Scheduled Tribe, Schedule Caste and Other Backward Class, cannot be finalised.
Speaking to media persons on Monday, Godinho said that the ward delimitation process is more or less completed and government has approved the SEC proposal.
“Whatever anomalies were brought to our notice, in discussion with SEC has been resolved. The delimitation will be notified anytime now,” he said adding ‘unless delimitation is notified, reservation of wards cannot be finalised’.
The Minister said that the government had tentatively proposed June 4 as date for conduct of panchayat elections. However, with reservation and delimitation yet to be finalised, there might be few days delay. “But we are hopeful that the SEC will complete the process within the deadline,” he said.
He said that the final decision with regards to elections dates will be taken by the SEC in consultation with the State government.
The new body in these 186 panchayats, comprising of 1,450 wards, has to be in place before June 19, when the term of existing body stands expired. The elections to remaining five panchayats, are due in 2024.
Around, 913 suggestions for corrections to the draft panchayat ward delimitation were received by the SEC for necessary rectification. Of these, 650 were received in North Goa and 263 in South.
