PANAJI
Following demands from the sports fraternity and others, the North Goa District Administration has agreed to shift the scheduled general assembly election preparatory work to the Government Polytechnic campus in Altinho from the earlier planned Indoor Stadium at Campal.
In a communiqué to representatives of political parties, North Goa's Additional Collector, Mamu Hage, IAS, said the first level checking of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and VVPATs machines is scheduled to be held from October 26 at the gymkhana hall of the Government Polytechnic in Altinho.
"I am to inform you that the First Level Checking of EVMs and VVPATs is scheduled from October 26 at Gymkhana Hall of Govt. Polytechnic, Altinho, Panaji," Hage said in the communiqué to political parties.
The exercise was earlier fixed to be conducted at the Sports Authority of Goa's (SAG) recently reconstructed and commissioned Indoor stadium at Campal. The decision of the district election officer to hold the exercise at the Campal facility had evoked sharp reactions from various quarters and in particular the sports fraternity who petitioned the government to shift the venue for the election-related work elsewhere.
Former Panaji MLA, Siddharth Kuncolienkar, had tweeted and requested the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Chief Electoral Officer Kunal, IAS, to refrain from blocking the stadium, which he said was the only sporting arena available for enthusiasts in the capital city. On Thursday, Kuncolienkar tweeted again to thank Sawant and Kunal for acceding to the demand and shifting the election work to GPP Altinho.
