ASSEMBLY POLL '98
COMMENTARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
YEH HAI INDIA!
ELECTIONS '98
ARCHIVES

EC working towards holding Goa polls by May

Sandesh Prabhudesai in Panaji

The Election Commission has clearly indicated its intention to hold early polls in Goa, currently under President's rule, probably by May-end. A final decision, however, would be taken only after its officials visit the state.

Changing its earlier 100-day plan of summary revision of the electoral rolls, the EC has now sent instructions to its local office in the state capital to advance the programme by one month and complete it by mid-April, compressing the whole schedule to 45 days. The earlier plan was to start it by April, with the final publication of the rolls by mid-July.

As summary revision of the electoral rolls is a must as per the provisions of the Representation of Peoples Act, confusion prevailed in the tourist state over the possibility of holding assembly polls earlier despite the governor's strong plea to hold it by May.

Otherwise, the EC had no other option but to hold it in November, when elections are actually due, due to the monsoons months in between. But the situation changed with the Goa assembly's premature dissolution earlier this month, leading to the imposition of President's rule.

Despite examinations, the local electoral office has now chalked out a plan to involve one primary teacher at every polling booth, which is a primary school, in the summary revision process, for a fortnight from March 8. After scrutiny, the final roll would be then published by April 20.

While this would clear a major hurdle in holding polls by May-end, the EC has also decided to use electronic machines at all 1135 polling booths in the state. Accordingly, the local office is already contacting states like Manipur and Delhi to get 1000 more machines, including the ones for back-up arrangement.

Tell us what you think of this report