PANAJI
The Goa State Election Commission (SEC) has published the draft delimitation of wards for 11 municipal councils across the State and has invited objections and suggestions on it from citizens.
The notification, issued by State Election Commissioner, Menino D'Souza, covers Mormugao and Margao with twenty-seven wards each, besides Mapusa, Curchorem Cacora, Bicholim, Cuncolim, Quepem, Canacona, Valpoi, Pernem and Sanguem.
The notification asks residents to submit objections or suggestions in writing to the SEC office at Altinho, Panaji, within 30 days of its publication.
The draft outlines proposed ward boundaries for the ensuing municipal polls and marks the first concrete step to holding civic elections, already due with several civic bodies being currently run by bureaucrats as administrators without elected representatives.
It may be recalled that the Commission had scrapped an earlier delimitation of wards process in May, declaring it null and void. After sweeping changes to the Goa Municipalities Act were made by the government through the Goa Municipalities (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026, promulgated by Governor Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju in April.
Through this ordinance full control of municipal elections, including delimitation and reservation was vested in the SEC. The Commission was mandated to fix ward numbers, carry out delimitation, and publish draft boundaries within 60 days.
Under this new framework, the SEC is also mandated to obtain data on political backwardness from the Goa State Commission for Backward Classes to fix reservations.
Draft rosters will be opened for feedback, with final lists issued within 30 days. Elections are to follow 30 days after publication of the reservation notification.
Observers note that delimitation exercises in Goa have historically been contentious, with accusations of gerrymandering and political interference. The SEC’s assertion of control under the amended law is seen as an attempt to insulate the process from political influence.
The coming weeks will test whether citizens engage with the draft proposals and whether the Commission can balance transparency with timely conduct of polls.
Will govt hold civic polls before Assembly?
With the State Election Commission (SEC) notifiying the draft delimitation for wards in eleven municipal councils, political circles are abuzz with speculation over whether the Pramod Sawant-led BJP government will go for a civic election before the 2027 assembly polls which are due early next year.
Official sources said while it is technically possible to conduct a civic poll by December, the practicality of it will have to be studied since the machinery which oversees the civic and assembly elections is the same.
The source said even if a process for civic elections is announced and are conducted, the practicality of it in the event the Election Commission of Indian (ECI) announces the schedule of the assembly elections remains uncertain. The ECI is expected to club Assembly elections in Goa with Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Manipur.
