Team Herald
PANJIM: The elections to 186 panchayats are expected to be delayed and likely to be held only after June 10 following the pending notification on ward delimitation and finalisation of the seat reservations. The State Election Commission (SEC) in consultation with the government had tentatively proposed polls on June 4.
The new body in 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.
Highly placed sources confirmed that the notification on the delimitation of wards is yet to be issued by the SEC, post which the ward reservation will be finalised. “SEC cannot go ahead and announced poll schedule unless delimitation and reservations are notified. In most likelihood, the polls will be held after June 10,” said sources.
“Panchayats might go for polls on June 11 or 12,” said sources, adding that in 2017 too, the elections were held on June 11.
The wards are constituted considering the geographical contiguity and natural boundaries and number of voters, whereas the reservation of wards will be done based on the composition of population — General, Scheduled Tribe, Schedule Caste and Other Backward Class.
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. The draft on reservation of wards is not yet out.
“SEC has to consult government before finalising ward reservation. The file is yet to be moved,” said sources.
Following amendment to the Goa Panchayat Raj Act, 1994, the task of dividing Panchayat areas into wards and reservation of seats was assigned to SEC in consultation with the Government.
