Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: The State government cited flash floods and the cyclonic situation in Goa resulting from the monsoon as a major reason for holding polls to 186 panchayats in September, three months after the term of the elected members ended on June 18.
Advocate General Devidas Pangam said that the state government was prepared to hold the elections on June 4, but due to the frequent queries raised by the State Election Commission (SEC), the polls could not take place before monsoons.
Pangam said that Goa has experienced flood-like situations and cyclones in the past and the government staff and machinery are on their toes to deal with disaster management.
“With all responsibility, the state government has taken a ‘conscious decision’ to hold the elections in September 2022,” he said.
He said that reservation of wards for OBCs following the triple test as mandated by the Supreme Court also had to be carried out, and monsoon could affect the voter turnout.
“The SEC’s insistence on holding elections during monsoons would render democracy a casualty,” he added.
