PANJIM: The election schedule to the five municipal councils is likely to be declared after March 24, following the presentation of the State Budget by Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant.
Also, the new Goa State Election Commissioner is likely to be appointed on Thursday. Former IAS officer W V Raman Murthy is tipped to be the new GSEC, official sources said.
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On March 12, the Supreme Court, while upholding the order of the High Court of Bombay at Goa, had directed the Directorate of Municipal Administration (DMA) to redraw the wards reservation for Mormugao, Margao, Mapusa, Quepem and Sanguem municipal councils and to complete the entire election process by April 30.
Accordingly, DMA announced new reservation of wards and it is now the GSEC which has to announce the poll schedule.
But with the opposition parties demanding deferment of the Budget session of Goa Assembly and Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant firm on presenting his second budget on March 24, there is every possibility that the poll schedule for the five municipal councils would be declared only after the presentation of the Budget.
The opposition has demanded that Sawant, who holds the finance portfolio should not present the Budget fearing that it would influence the voters in the midst of poll process in five municipal councils.
The GSEC is learnt to have agreed to the opposition demand to declare election results of all 11 municipal councils and the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) and five municipal councils together.
Meanwhile, polling for Pernem, Bicholim, Valpoi, Cuncolim, Curchorem-Cacora and Canacona municipal councils and CCP will be held on Saturday, March 20.
The Goa government has now shortlisted the name of retired IAS officer W V Ramana Murthy for the post of the Goa State Election Commissioner (GSEC). Ramana Murthy who was a Goa civil services cadre office and was promoted as IAS officer of AGMUT cadre in 2002.
The budget session of Goa Assembly will be held for 13 days from March 24 to April 16 and the demand for grants for various departments will also be passed during the session.
The opposition members have decided to approach the Goa Governor and the Goa State Election Commissioner (GSEC) if the Chief Minister does not pay heed to their request.
They have demanded that the budget which is going to be presented should not have any new schemes but just old schemes given how it can affect the remaining municipal elections.
