PANAJI
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Sunday said the ordinance cleared by his cabinet transferring the powers of conducting the entire process of local body elections to the State Election Commission contains a crucial provision: the basis for delimitation of wards will now shift from voter strength to population figures, even as uncertainty continues to hang over the schedule of the impending municipal polls.
Interacting with the media, Sawant explained that the change brings Goa in line with practices followed in other States and is intended to ensure fairer representation. He said the ordinance proposes that the SEC is vested with full authority to decide on the number of wards, carry out the delimitation exercise, and announce the election schedule.
“We have given all rights to the State Election Commission to decide on these issues,” he said, adding that the SEC will follow procedures designed to reduce the scope for legal challenges once polls are declared.
The ordinance, however, is yet to be promulgated as Governor Pushapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju is currently out of station. Until his return, likely on Tuesday, the uncertainty surrounding the municipal election schedule remains unresolved. Sawant himself declined to confirm whether the polls would be held before or after the Assembly elections due in early 2027, insisting that the decision rests entirely with the SEC.
Political circles, meanwhile, are abuzz with speculation that elections to several municipal councils may be delayed beyond the Assembly polls.
The buzz stems from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party’s internal difficulties in endorsing candidates for individual wards, with multiple claimants among supporters vying for nominations. A postponement could give the BJP breathing space to manage these rivalries and avoid any impact on its ground strength ahead of the larger electoral contest in 2027.
Opposition political parties, however, could challenge any such move that extends the tenure of existing municipal councils with administrators running day-to-day affairs.
For now, the ordinance when promulgated could significantly shift the framework of how civic elections are conducted. With the Governor’s assent pending and the SEC likely to hold the reins, the timing of municipal elections remains unclear, throwing a cloud of uncertainty over the State’s political calendar.
