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... NOT DURING FESTIVE SEASON, EXAMS
* Possibility of holding Goa elections in the month of February or March and last week of December is being ruled out due to the festive season and children’s examination
* Last assembly elections which were held on March 3, 2012 had attracted criticism from parents as they were inconvenienced due to the examination of their children
* If the elections are declared in the month of December, the BJP-led govt will be left with nearly 10 months to show its performance before facing the polls
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PANAJI: With the term of the State Legislative Assembly ending on March 19 next year, preparations are underway to hold the elections for the State along with three other states.
The Election Commission of India is exploring the possibility of preponing the elections to avoid inconvenience to the general public.
It has been learnt that the period from December 11-18 is being considered for holding the general elections, which is nearly three months prior to the term ending on March 19.
Sources informed that three other states are also likely to face elections along with Goa as their term too ends in March 2017.
The term of Goa and Punjab Legislative Assembly ends on March 19, 2017, the term of Manipur ends on March 12 and March 27.
The possibility of holding elections in the month of February or March and last week of December is being ruled out due to the festive season and children’s examination.
“As the last week of December is Christmas festival and the new year season, and the month of March is examination period for students, pre-Christmas would be the ideal time to conduct assembly elections. And if the elections are declared during this period, the code of conduct is likely to come into force in the last week of October or first week of November,” informed sources.
Sources informed that the last assembly elections which were held on March 3, 2012 had attracted criticism from parents as they were inconvenienced due to the examination of their children.
And if the Election Commission holds it in the month of February, the code of conduct will come into force during the festive season. So the ideal time would be pre-Christmas and festive season.
If the elections are declared in the month of December, the BJP-led State Government will be left with nearly 10 months to show its performance before facing the polls.
