Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The State Election Commission has announced that elections to the 30 wards of the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) will be held on March 11, 2026, with counting of votes scheduled for March 13 at Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Stadium, Bambolim.
The current term of the CCP, elected in March 2021, will expire on March 29, 2026. In accordance with the City of Panaji Corporation Act, 2002 and Article 243ZA of the Constitution of India, the election process has been initiated to constitute the new Corporation before the completion of its five-year term.
The Urban Development Department completed the delimitation of 30 wards, which was notified on February 2, 2026. Ward-wise photo electoral rolls were published on February 6, 2026, based on the Goa Legislative Assembly electoral roll as on January 1, 2025, along with supplements up to October 1, 2025.
Out of the 30 wards, 10 are reserved for women, 8 for OBCs and 1 for ST, while none are reserved for SC. The elections will be held on non-party lines.
Nominations will be accepted from February 17 to 24 (except February 22) between 10 am and 1 pm at the Office of the Dy. Collector, Tiswadi. Scrutiny will be held on February 25, withdrawal of candidature on February 26, and the final list of contesting candidates will be announced the same day after 3 pm.
Polling will take place from 8 am to 5 pm across 48 polling booths. A total of 32,496 voters — including 15,225 male and 17,271 female voters — are eligible to cast their votes. Voting will be conducted by ballot paper.
The maximum expenditure limit per candidate has been fixed at ₹2.5 lakh. The security deposit is ₹2,000 for general category candidates and ₹1,000 for reserved category candidates. Filing of affidavit in prescribed Form XXVI is mandatory along with nomination papers.
The Model Code of Conduct has come into force with immediate effect across areas under CCP jurisdiction. Observers, expenditure observers and flying squads have been appointed to monitor compliance, and adequate police deployment has been planned to ensure smooth conduct of polls.
Goa State Election Commission Commissioner Menino D’Souza said the Commission has completed all preparatory work in a time-bound manner.
“We are fully prepared to conduct the CCP elections in a free, fair and transparent manner. All necessary arrangements, including deployment of staff, training, security and enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct, have been put in place,” D’Souza said.
He further stated that the electoral rolls have been updated as per statutory provisions and urged voters to actively participate in the democratic process.
Meanwhile, by-elections to 14 vacant wards of various Village Panchayats across Pernem, Bicholim, Bardez, Salcete, Ponda, Quepem and Canacona talukas will be held on March 8, 2026, with counting on March 9. These elections will also be conducted on non-party lines and voting will be by ballot.
