Daijiworld Media Network – Panaji

Panaji, Nov 14: The State government has dismissed any possibility of delaying the upcoming Zilla Panchayat (ZP) elections, confirming that polling will be held on December 13 as originally scheduled.

Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, speaking to The Goan, made it clear that the government has no intention of altering the election timeline. “There will be no change in the ZP election schedule. It will be held as announced,” he said.

The clarification follows a communication from the Chief Electoral Office (CEO), which had suggested postponing the polls until the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls is completed. The final revised rolls are expected to be published on February 7, 2026.

Despite the request, Chief Electoral Officer Sanjay Goel had earlier noted that the election notification was yet to be issued and the government’s stand was awaited. Soon after, State Election Commissioner Menino D’Souza confirmed that the polls would go ahead as planned. “There is time for the notification to be issued. We will release the schedule soon,” he said.

Sources indicated that officials not involved in the SIR exercise are likely to be assigned to manage election duties. “The term of the existing ZP body ends in the first week of January. It is crucial that the new members are elected and take charge before the term expires,” an official said.

The CEO has recommended the appointment of separate officers as returning officers if the election schedule overlaps with the SIR process, to ensure that revision work remains unaffected.

The State Election Commission has already designated Deputy Collectors and Mamlatdars as Returning Officers and Assistant Returning Officers for the upcoming polls.