PANAJI
The vigorous campaign for elections to the Corporation of the City of Panaji and six municipalities elections came to end on Thursday evening.
The residents of CCP along with six municipalities -- Bicholim, Valpoi, Pernem, Cuncolim, Curchorem and Canacona -- will exercise their franchise on March 20 and the counting of votes is scheduled for March 22.
While the polling will begin from 8 am to 5 pm, SEC has scheduled polling for Covid-19 patients from 4 pm to 5 pm.
A total of 423 candidates will test their luck in the local body elections.
Along with municipal elections, by-polls of the Zilla panchayat for the Navelim seat and by-polls to 22 wards of different village panchayats will also be held on the same day.
The by-election for Navelim ZP seat was necessitated as the Congress candidate had expired before the polls held in December last year.
By-poll to ward IX of Sanquelim civic body is a straight fight with just 2 candidates in fray. For 22 wards of village panchayats, 49 candidates are contesting. In ward 16 of Navelim Zilla Panchayat there are 4 candidates in fray.
The CCP elections will be interesting with a fight between the panel under the banner ‘We Ponjekars’ and BJP MLA Atanasio Monserrate supported panel.
Meanwhile, the government has issued an order prohibiting the sale of liquor and closure of all food outlets in view of the voting on March 20
All restaurants, bars, tea shops, pan shops, eateries and other food shops (dhabas gaddas) etc, situated in jurisdiction of municipal areas, Corporation of City of Panaji and bye election to village panchayats of North Goa District within 200 mtrs of the polling station will remain closed from 6 am to 9 pm on the day of poll on March 20, and from 6 am to till end of counting of votes on March 22 at counting centres of respective Talukas in North Goa District.
Similar order has also been issued prohibiting sale of liquor in the above specified areas from 12 am of March 19 till midnight of March 20 and on the day of counting of votes ie. on March 22 from 12 am till midnight of March 22.
In addition Section 144 has also been imposed in the areas in view of polls and counting.
