PANAJI
The model code of conduct is set to come into force from Saturday as the State Election Commissioner, Menino D’Souza, is expected to announce the schedule for the upcoming Zilla Panchayat elections at a press conference scheduled for 10 am.
The elections D’Souza had earlier announced will be held on December 20.
The announcement follows the Bombay High Court at Goa dismissing multiple petitions earlier this week that had challenged the allocation of seats across various reserved categories.
With the legal hurdles cleared, the decks are now set for the formal notification of the poll schedule.
The Zilla Panchayat elections are considered crucial as they serve as a barometer of grassroots political sentiment across Goa’s rural political turf.
The polls will decide representation in the State’s rural governance system, often criticised as lacking teeth and powers.
Officials said the model code of conduct will come into immediate effect once the election schedule is announced. This will restrict the government from making new policy announcements, launching schemes, or taking decisions that could influence voters.
Political parties will also be bound by strict guidelines on campaigning, expenditure, and conduct.
The dismissal of the petitions has brought relief to the State Election Commission, which had been awaiting clarity on seat reservations before proceeding with the poll process.
The reserved categories include seats for women, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes, ensuring representation across social groups.
With the announcement expected on Saturday morning, political parties are gearing up for the campaign trail.
The elections are likely to witness intense contests, with the ruling BJP, Congress, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and regional outfits such as the Goa Forward Party and Revolutionary Goans Party expected to field candidates aggressively.
