PANJIM: State Election Commission (SEC) has cancelled its media briefing called on Monday without citing any valid reasons. The media briefing was supposed to be address by the Commissioner WV Ramanmurthy regarding panchayat polls.
According to sources, the SEC was under intense pressure from the government to call off the Press Conference fearing public furore.
Sources also claim that SEC is considering moving Bombay High Court at Goa to seek directions on holding timely polls, which are due on next month.
The five-year term of 186 village panchayats will expire on June 19 and as per the rule, the new body has to be in place before that. The State government had initially scheduled the panchayat elections for June 4.
It is learnt that SEC is firm to hold elections in June.
Sources said that SEC has already completed the procedure of notifying delimitation of wards and finalising reservation of seats by de-reserving OBC seats, as per Supreme Court directives.
The file on ward reservation was sent back by the government to SEC directing that it is not as per the Apex Court mandate of triple-test and same needs to be followed. The file was sent after taking legal opinion of the Advocate General Devidas Pangam, who also said that OBC Commission should redo the survey.
Panchayat Minister Mauvin Godinho is on record emphasising the fact that it is not intension of State government to postpone elections. However SC order has to be followed in letter and spirit and it is left for OBC Commission to take a decision.
