Polling in Goa will be held in a single phase on February 4, the Election Commission of India announced today. Counting of votes has been slated for March 11.
Goa has 40 assembly seats (Reserved for SCs – 1)
Number of polling stations: 1642
The term of the present Assembly expires on March 18, 2017.
Electors Photo Identity Cards (EPID) is 99.55 per cent in the state.
With the announcement of polling dates, the Model Code of Conduct comes into force with immediate effect.
The maximum limit for expenses for each candidates in the state has been set at Rs 20 lakh.
Important dates:
Notification on Jan 11
Last date of filing nomination Jan 18
Scrutiny on Jan 19
Withdrawal of candidature on Jan 21
Polling on Feb 4
The major players in the state are BJP and Congress. The state is currently under the rule of a Bharatiya Janata Party-led coalition.
The BJP had won the 2012 state Assembly election in alliance with the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP). While the BJP has 21 MLAs, the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) has 3 MLAs in the outgoing Assembly.
The BJP will try to retain its stronghold in the state. Congress, which lost power in 2012, will be looking to make a comeback. At present, the party has 9 MLAs.
This year’s poll will also mark the debut of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the state.
