PANAJI
Polling for all 30 wards of the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) will be held on March 11, coinciding with the Budget Session of the Goa Legislative Assembly, which is scheduled to commence on March 6.
Counting of votes will take place on March 13 at the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Stadium, with the Model Code of Conduct coming into force with immediate effect.
With the State Election Commission announcing the schedule, the political atmosphere in the capital has intensified. Though civic polls are not contested on party lines, the election is expected to be a crucial political test in Panaji -- particularly for sitting MLA and Minister Atanasio ‘Babush’ Monserrate and Utpal Parrikar -- ahead of the Assembly elections due early next year.
State Election Commissioner Menino D’Souza said the previous CCP polls were held on March 20, 2021, and the first special corporation meeting convened on March 30 that year. Accordingly, the term of the current council will expire on March 29, 2026.
Polling will be conducted across 48 booths using ballot papers. A total of 32,496 voters are eligible to cast their votes, including 15,225 male and 17,271 female electors.
The nomination process will begin on February 17 and continue until February 24 between 10 am and 1 pm, except on February 22 (Sunday). Scrutiny of nominations will be held on February 25, while withdrawals, if any, will be permitted on February 26. The maximum election expenditure has been capped at Rs 2.50 lakh per candidate per ward.
To ensure effective enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct within the corporation’s jurisdiction, the Commission has appointed a General Observer, Expenditure Observers and flying squads. Adequate police deployment has also been assured for the smooth and peaceful conduct of the elections.
Responding to queries, D’Souza clarified that the Model Code will not impact the ongoing Assembly session, as restrictions are confined to the corporation area.
Of the 30 wards, 10 are reserved for women, eight for OBC candidates and one for a Scheduled Tribe candidate. “The OBC reservation has been implemented based on data submitted by the Goa State Commission for Backward Classes, in compliance with the Supreme Court-mandated “triple test” guidelines,” D’Souza said.
He added that the reservation and population figures have been drawn from the 2011 Census, while the electoral roll is based on the Assembly roll in force as of January 1, 2025.
By-polls to 14 p’yat wards on March 8
The State Election Commission on Monday announced that by-elections to 14 vacant panchayat wards will be held on March 8, with counting scheduled for March 9.
The wards going to polls are: VP Chandel-Hasapur (Ward I), Mandrem (Ward IV), Pilgao (Ward VII), Latambarcem (Ward III), Pilerne-Marna (Ward I), Sirsaim (Ward VI), Salvador-do-Mundo (Ward II), Candolim (Ward I), Aquem Baixo (Ward VI), Borim (Ward I), Veling-Priol-Cuncoliem (Ward III), Bhoma-Adcolna (Ward III), Balli (Ward VIII) and Loliem-Polem (Ward VIII).
State Election Commissioner Menino D’Souza said the nomination process will commence on February 18 and continue until February 25. Scrutiny will be on February 26, while withdrawals, if any, will be permitted on February 27.
