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Goa to go to polls on June 4

Sandesh Prabhudesai in Panaji

Ending all speculation, the Election Commission today announced that Goa will go to polls on June 4. With this, the Model Code of Conduct has come into force with immediate effect.

Goa, which has been under President's rule since February 10 following the premature dissolution of the state assembly, has to have its House reconstituted before August 9, since further extension of central rule is not possible with the dissolution of the Lok Sabha.

This will the fourth election in Goa in five years. Since the last assembly polls held in November 1994, the state has seen two Lok Sabha polls, in 1996 and 1998. While the state polls will be the fourth, the forthcoming general elections in September-October would be the fifth one within five years.

The major highlight of the much-awaited state polls would be the use of electronic voting machines in all the 40 constituencies, for the purpose of polling as well as counting.

"This is a unique and historic step taken by the Election Commission in modernising and systematising electoral management and a major milestone in the history of India democracy", stated a press communiqué released by the EC in this regard.

A formal notification in this regard, however, would be issued on May 10, and nominations will continue till May 17. After completing scrutiny and withdrawals by May 20, campaigning will be on till June 2.

Though counting would hardly take two to three hours because of the EVMs, the EC has decided to take up counting one day later in case repolling is required in any segment. Around 120 polling booths have been identified as sensitive in the peaceful state.

The local election office has also procured 1500 EVMs, to be used in 1135 polling stations and for a stand-by arrangements in case of any failure. If the experiment works out, it would be repeated once again for the general elections to be held in Goa in four months' time.

Though a debate had been on over holding both the assembly and Lok Sabha elections simultaneously, the EC said the decision to hold assembly polls immediately was taken since there was unanimity among all parties on this issue.

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