NT NETWORK
PANAJI
The model code of conduct for the general election to 186 village panchayats in the state comes into effect from Thursday with the process of filing nominations also beginning on the same day.
The code of conduct will last till the counting process is completed on June 13. The elections will be fought on non-party basis.
The nominations papers will be accepted by the respective returning officers (ROs) at respective notified places between 10 am to 1 pm from May 18 to May 25 except on May 21, being a Sunday.
The candidates filing nomination papers under general category will have to deposit Rs 100 while the candidates filing nomination papers under reserved category are required to deposit Rs 50 before the respective RO on or before the date fixed for receiving the nomination papers.
“The state government will be barred from making new announcements for development projects or recruitments for areas coming under the panchayats jurisdiction while the code of conduct is in effect,” said a senior official of the State Election Commission (SEC).
He also said that all ongoing development works in jurisdiction of 186 panchayats will be examined by the SEC and if their work order were given after the panchayat election date was announced, then the commission will issue stop work order.
He said that the village panchayats such as Alorna, Casarvarnem, Chandel-Hassapur, Harvalem, Taleigao, all municipal areas in Goa and Corporation of City of Panaji are excluded from code of conduct as these bodies are not going to polls.
Meanwhile, the directorate of Panchayats has issued a notification for reservation of panchayat wards where a total of 15 wards have been reserved for the SC community which includes 12 wards for men and 3 for women. For ST community, a total of 168 wards have been reserved out of which 114 for men and 54 for women, and for OBC community altogether 357 wards has been reserved out of which 247 has been reserved for men and 110 for women. A total of 323 wards have been reserved for women in general category.