Code of Conduct in Goa by Jan 8, Elections in Feb second week

PANAJI: Election Commission of India sources claimed that the Code of Conduct in the coastal state could come in force by the 8th of January next year (10th January being the outer limit) and the polls are expected to be held in the second week of February between the 7th to the 12th.

The final revision of the Goa Electoral Rolls will be published on 5th January and the election announcement could be made any time after that.

Unless there is a change in the poll schedule in the 5 states due to Omicron, the polls in Goa will be held in the second week of February. The Code of Conduct will come into force in Goa by the 8 or 10th of January next year, a senior poll official said.

The full bench of the ECI comprising of Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra, Commissioners Rajiv Kumar and Anup Chandra Pandey on Tuesday held one-to-one interaction with representatives of various political parties- BJP, Congress, Goa Forward Party, MGP, Nationalist Congress party and the TMC.

Emerging from the meeting, BJP State president Sadanand Shet Tanavade said that party has requested to consider Christmas and New Year celebration before declaring the poll dates.

He said that the party has suggested that the poll date should not coincide with public holidays or any festive days to ensure maximum participation of voters.