In a bid to avoid clashing dry-day with the traditional San Joao festival, the State Government on Monday decided to prepone the elections to 186 village panchayat to June 17.
The Government had last week announced to hold the elections on June 25. The five-year term of the panchayats end on May 20 and based on which State Election Commission had earlier proposed holding the elections on May 21.
The San Joao festival is will be celebrated on June 24.
Panchayat Minister Mauvin Godinho this morning held a meeting with Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, wherein it was decided to prepone the elections by one week to June 17.
“We had initially decided to hold elections on June 25 but then it was realized that the dates clashes with the traditional San Joao festival. Hence it was decided to prepone it and the new date is most likely to be June 17,” Godinho said.
Godinho said that the State Election Commission (SEC) has been consulted on the revised date, which SEC has agreed upon. “I had directed Director Panchayat to hold consultation with SEC on the revised date and accordingly, its consent has been granted,” he said.
Chief Minister last week had announced to reduce the canvassing period from 15 to 10 days, while the election code of conduct will be enforced for 20 to 22 days prior to holding the elections.
Parrikar had justified that since majority of government employees will proceed on leave during April-May and the State witnessed a series of bureaucratic reshuffle in the last few days, polls had to be postponed. Also, busy schedule during the State Assembly election period from January 4 till the announcement of the results on March 11 was yet another reason attributed to the delay.
Congress party had protested against postponement of the polls and had submitted representation to SEC. The party had accused BJP-led coalition government of trying to “manipulate the tenets of democracy” by putting off elections. Party had also pointed out that the traditional Sao-Joao festival which will be celebrated on June 24 will have the impact of election code- which would be in force.
Team TNV
