PANAJI
Nearly six decades after it happened, January 17 will henceforth be officially observed as 'Opinion Poll Day' with a State-level government function.
The State government officially notified Opinion Poll Day as a State-level government function with the Directorate of Official Language as the nodal department.
The 'Opinion Poll', one of only two plebiscites or referendums of sorts held in the country, took place in 1967, through which Goans got an opportunity to vote either to merge with Maharashtra or remain a separate territory.
The poll was won by the side that favoured retaining Goa as a distinct territory, and it eventually achieved Statehood in 1987.