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Uncertainty hangs over Goa polls

Assembly polls are to be held in Goa by the end of May, after President's rule was imposed on it recently. But if the Election Commission cannot manage it, it may have to be rescheduled for November, when elections are due anyway.

The problem lies with a revision of the electoral rolls, without which no election can be held as per the provisions of the Representation of Peoples' Act. If that requirement is waived, Goa will become the first state in the country to hold elections without such a revision.

For the moment though, revision is very much on and is expected to begin on April 1 but the process will be complete only by July 12. "Once taken up, it cannot be completed in less than three months," said Kewal Sharma, the local chief electoral officer.

But since the monsoons begin in June, elections are likely to be delayed till October. The people will be occupied in the fields at the time, making a successful election unlikely.

Though former Congress chief minister Luizinho Faleiro has suggested the revision process be advanced and completed in one month, it seems a bleak possibility. The actual revision is done in primary schools, and these are available only after the examinations in March.

"Keeping the state in the hands of bureaucracy for such a long time is not good for a healthy democracy," said Dr Wilfred de Souza, the former chief minister.

Advancing the EC's original plan appears the inevitable option since otherwise it would compel the Union cabinet to extend President's rule for a third time.

Governor J F R Jacob has assured the people here that he will make a strong plea to the EC to hold elections as soon as possible. But it all depends on Gill, who may not take a risk of waiving a revision and holding polls six months in advance.

The rolls were revised on January 1, 1998. The relevant law clearly states that no election can be held without a fresh summary revision. There's one loophole there since it adds, "unless otherwise directed by the Election Commission for reasons to be recorded in writing".

All eyes, naturally, are on the EC.

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