Elections to 5 municipalities on April 23

Digital Goa, Mar 30 – State Election Commission today announced that the elections of 5 municipalities of Mormugao, Margao, Mapusa,Sanguem and Quepem will be held on April 23. The detailed schedule is as follows-
Receipt of nominations – March 31,2021 to April 8,2021
Scrutiny of applications – April 9,2021
Withdrawal of nominations – April 10, 2021
Declaring of final list of candidates – April 10, after 3 pm
Date of polling – Friday, April 23 from 8 am to 5 pm of which the last hour i.e. 4 pm to 5 pm allotted for Covid patient voting
Date of Counting – April 26, 2021
Model Code of Conduct has come into force in the jurisdiction of areas that will go for polls from today and will continue till midnight of April 26.
Will deliberate with district magistrates over impact of section 144 on campaigning
SEC W V Ramanamurthy said that he will deliberate with the District Magistrates over implications of Section 144 that is in effect in the state, over the campaigning process which is likely to see large groups of people moving around together. “District Magistrate will take the call,” he added. Section 144 is in force in the state in view of rising number of Covid cases. He further informed that Sector Magistrates and flying squads will monitor the polling process to keep irregularities and law and order issues at bay.
We will cross the bridge when it comes – SEC on likelihood of assembly announcements influencing voters
When queried over likelihood of announcements made in the assembly influencing the voters SEC said, “We will cross the bridge when it comes.”
“Assembly is an independent thing. We look after the campaigning part. Model Code of Conduct is for the candidates contesting the polls. This being independent candidate wise polling, MCC will be applicable to candidates” said SEC. “We have a book, when there is an issue then we will see it and take necessary action,” he added. SEC further informed that with the exception of one all other petitions filed against reservation of wards in the 5 municipalities which are going for polls have been dismissed by the court. “Even regarding one petition that is not dismissed, interim relief is not given. We are going ahead with the polls,” he said.
SEC also added that in view of Covid only 2 more persons will be allowed with the candidates when they go to file their nominations.

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