Team Goemkarponn
Panaji: The recent transfer of 34 mid-level government officers in Goa has triggered unease across political circles, coming just days after the announcement of a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the state’s electoral rolls.
The transfers, issued late on Monday evening, coincide with the start of the large-scale voter verification drive being conducted across 12 states and Union Territories, including Goa. Opposition parties have questioned the timing and motive behind the reshuffle, fearing it could influence the integrity of the voter list revision process.
Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Sanjay Goel, IAS, confirmed that he is reviewing the transfer order to determine whether any of the affected officials hold positions as Returning Officers (ROs) or Assistant Returning Officers (AROs). “If any of the transferred officers are engaged in SIR-related duties, I will take up the matter with the government,” Goel assured, adding that the process will strictly follow Election Commission of India (ECI) guidelines.
Representatives from the Congress, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), and Goa Forward Party (GFP) met the CEO on Tuesday at his Altinho office to convey their concerns. Congress chief Amit Patkar, AAP vice-president Surel Tilve, and GFP spokesperson Durgadas Kamat jointly urged the CEO to ensure transparency and prevent any political manipulation of the revision process.
The SIR involves a door-to-door verification of voter data, elimination of duplicate or deceased entries, and inclusion of new eligible voters. The final updated electoral rolls are expected to be published by February 2026.
One of the more prominent transfers includes Kaushik Amonkar, formerly Under Secretary (Protocol), who has been appointed as Deputy Collector and SDM of Ponda. His new post places him in charge of multiple constituencies—Ponda, Priol, Marcaim, and Shiroda—for the SIR exercise.
Another officer, Nehal Talaunekar, previously serving as Deputy Collector and SDM of Bicholim with additional charge as Chief Officer of the Bicholim Municipal Council, will now retain only the municipal post, removing him from direct involvement in the SIR for the Bicholim and Mayem constituencies.
The order, signed by Under Secretary (Personnel) Raghuraj Phaldesai, also includes several other administrative changes affecting Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs) and Deputy Collectors across the state.
Opposition parties say the timing of these transfers—just as the voter verification drive is beginning—could disrupt continuity and cast doubt on the impartiality of the process. However, CEO Goel reiterated that the election machinery remains committed to upholding neutrality and credibility throughout the SIR exercise.
