the goan I network
PANAJI
“My government is committed to ensure free and peaceful conduct of the panchayat polls,” the Governor stated in her speech.
The sand is running out quickly, and the present term of 189 panchayats elected in 2012 will conclude on May 16. The newly-elected state government appears to have quite a task on its hands in expediting the preparations for
the polls.
It was learnt that the entire process for delimitation and reservation of wards within the jurisdiction of each panchayat would require at least two months with the polls expected to be scheduled two and half months after the new state government assumes power on March 11.
However, with no minister at the helm, the Directorate of Panchayats is yet to finalise the process of delimitation and other preparations for conducting the panchayat polls.
According to procedure, the State Election Commission had recommended to the Directorate of Panchayats ‘May 21’ as the tentative date for holding elections to 190 panchayats across the State.
But cornered by the uproar from Goa Forward in the first week of February this year, soon after the the Assembly elections, DoP had put on hold till March 11 the process for delimitation and reservation of panchayat wards in
190 panchayats.
