PANAJI
Ahead of the municipality polls, the State government has proposed linking the strength of municipal councils to the population of the municipal area rather than the number of voters, while also making the existing 27 per cent reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) subject to empirical data on their political backwardness.
Urban Development Minister Vishwajit Rane on Monday introduced the Goa Municipalities (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
The Bill seeks to amend the existing formula for determining the number of councillors in municipal councils. For both A and B class municipalities, the additional councillor threshold would be determined on the basis of 3,000 population, replacing the existing criterion of 2,500 voters.
“The amendment proposed so as to ensure fair election with proper representations of the people from the wards of the local bodies in accordance with the population in municipal area,” the Bill stated.
A significant change has also been proposed in OBC reservation. Instead of making 27 per cent reservation mandatory, the Bill proposes that OBC reservation “may be 27 per cent”, with the actual extent to be determined after obtaining empirical data on the political backwardness of OBCs.
The Goa State Election Commission will obtain the data from the Goa State Commission for Backward Classes for each municipal area and its wards before undertaking the reservation exercise.
The Bill lays down a time-bound process for delimitation and reservation ahead of municipal elections. After the number of wards is notified, the SEC will have 60 days to complete delimitation, followed by a 30-day period for public objections and another 30 days to issue the final delimitation notification.
The government has said the amendments seek to ensure fair representation, incorporate Supreme Court directions relating to OBC reservation and provide greater transparency and public participation in the municipal election process.
