NT Reporter | Panaji
Amidst the request by the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) to postpone the zilla panchayat elections to the period post February 7, 2026 in view of the ongoing special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, the State Election Commission is all set to issue a notification by November 17 or 18 detailing the poll schedule.
The government has fixed December 13, 2025 as the date for the ZP elections.
The tenure of the two bodies of 25 members each ends on January 7, 2026.
CEO Sanjay Goel had urged the state government to hold the elections after the SIR exercise, citing government officials’ involvement in both processes.
However, the state poll panel said it will go ahead with the election process as per announced schedule. The commission explained to the government about the feasibility of holding the poll process, maintaining that it can manage with officials below the rank of deputy collectors.
Commissioner of the State Election Commission Menino D’Souza told The Navhind Times on Thursday that there is no question of the ZP poll process clashing with the SIR exercise. He said the poll panel will announce the detailed schedule for the elections by next Monday or Tuesday followed by the issuance of a notification.
The commissioner further said that it has already adopted the electoral roll published in January 2025.
Voting for the ZP polls will be held on ballot papers; the elections are being held on party lines.
