PANJIM: The Goa State Election Commission (SEC) is awaiting notification on the reservation and delimitation of municipal wards, before proposing schedule for the local body elections, which are likely to take place in the last week of February, 2021.
The five-year tenure of the eleven municipal councils ended on November 4. The Municipal Administrators are currently overseeing the affairs of eleven municipalities. The council of Mormugao, Margao, Mapusa, Bicholim, Cuncolim, Curchorem, Quepem, Canacona, Sanguem, Pernem and Valpoi was elected on October 27, 2015.
The SEC had initially proposed to conduct the polls to elect new council on October 18; however, due to worsening COVID-19 crisis, the polls were postponed by three months.
Sources stated that SEC has written to the Directorate of Municipal Administration (DMA) to complete the ward reservation and delimitation process at the earliest, so that a notification can be issued. “The process is on. We have to wait for the notification to be out before proposing election schedule,” sources said.
Sources said the elections for 11 municipal councils and the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) will be held by end of February 2021. “As far as reservation and delimitation policy for CCP is concerned, the same will be done by the SEC, as per the Act,” sources said.
SEC has also written to the Directorate of Planning and Statistics and the Directorate of Social Welfare, seeking data on total number of voters- male, female, Schedule Tribes, Schedule Castes and OBC voters, etc.
“Once we get all the information, SEC will be in position to prepare the election schedule. The schedule has to be announced one month before the polls,” sources said.
The government in its submission before the High Court, last week, said the reservation for municipal elections will be announced three weeks prior to poll notification.
When contacted, DMA Tariq Thomas said as assured to the High Court, the process will be completed within the stipulated time period. “The reservation and delimitation of wards is an ongoing process. We will hold talks with SEC on election schedule and accordingly, the notification will be issued,” he said.
