Goa Panchayat Byelections: 41 Candidates Nominated for 14 Wards, Two Elected Unopposed
In a significant development for local governance in Goa, a total of 41 candidates have been officially nominated for the upcoming byelections to fill 14 vacant wards across various village panchayats. The elections are scheduled to take place on March 8, 2024, with the nomination process concluding after scrutiny and withdrawal phases.
Two Candidates Declared Unopposed Winners
Following the withdrawal of nominations on Friday, two candidates were declared unopposed winners, securing their positions without a contest. Rakhi Sandeep Salgaonkar was elected unopposed as the panch member of Ward No. 2 in Salvador Do Mundo village panchayat. Similarly, Nilu Velip was elected unopposed to represent Ward 8 of the Adnem panchayat. These early victories highlight the competitive yet sometimes uncontested nature of local body elections in the region.
Remaining 12 Wards to Go to Polls on March 8
The elections for the remaining 12 panchayats, spread across different talukas in Goa, will proceed as planned on March 8. Voters in these wards will cast their ballots using paper ballots to choose their panchayat representatives. The highest number of candidates is contesting from Candolim, where five candidates are vying for Ward 1. This is followed by Veling-Priol-Cuncoliem and Borim, each fielding four candidates, indicating keen competition in these areas.
List of Panchayats Going to Polls
The 14 village panchayats participating in these byelections include:
- Mandrem
- Chandel-Hassapur
- Sirsaim
- Candolim
- Salvador-do-Mundo
- Latambarcem
- Piligao
- Pilerne-Marra
- Bhoma-Adcolna
- Veling-Priol-Cuncoliem
- Borim
- Aquem-Baixo
- Balli-Adnem
- Loliem-Polem
These panchayats represent a diverse cross-section of Goa's rural landscape, with wards falling under various reserved categories as per constitutional mandates.
Reservation Framework and Nomination Process
The wards in these byelections are categorized under multiple reserved segments, including:
- General
- Other Backward Classes (OBC)
- OBC Women
- Women
- Scheduled Tribes (ST)
This reflects the constitutional reservation framework applicable to local body elections in India, ensuring representation for marginalized communities. The nomination papers of all 41 candidates were accepted after thorough scrutiny by returning officers. A subsequent window was kept open for withdrawal of nominations, which led to the unopposed elections in two wards.
As the election date approaches, political activity is expected to intensify in the remaining wards, with candidates campaigning to secure voter support. The outcome of these byelections will shape local governance and development initiatives in these panchayats for the coming term.
