PANAJI
With the delimitation of wards and reservation process yet to be finalised, panchayat elections in the State are likely to be delayed by a week or so.
There had been a proposal to conduct the elections on June 4, after anticipating that the delimitation of wards and reservation process would be completed by the first week of May and the elections would be declared by the second week of May.
“However, delimitation of wards and reservation process has not been finalised. The process may take some time,” said State Election Commissioner (SEC) W V Ramanamurti.
The SEC has prepared a draft delimitation and reservation document and has sent it to the government for final approval. However, the approval has not been received from the government as yet.
“The process will take another eight days,” said Panchayats Minister Mauvin Godinho.
It may be noted that previous panchayat elections were held on June 11, 2017 and panchayat bodies were formed after results were declared on June 13, 2017.
The election procedures have to be completed before June 13, failing which the government will be compelled to appoint an administrator at the panchayats.
The SEC had published a draft delimitation of panchayats on February 24. This draft was kept open for suggestions and objections till March 4.
There had been as many as 650 suggestions and objections from North Goa and 263 from South Goa.
After considering these suggestions the SEC prepared a new draft and sent it to the State government.
