Goa BJP wants assembly polls in January 2017

Less than two weeks after poll authorities recommended the second week of December as tentative period for holding state legislative elections, state BJP president Vinay Tendulkar said the ruling party was in favour of holding the polls in January, because December was packed with activities and religious festivals.

"We have Christmas, New Year and so many music festivals which happen in December. Holding elections at the time will put pressure on the security apparatus. January will be a good month for elections," state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Vinay Tendulkar told reporters in Mapusa, located 10 km north of Panaji.

Christmas and New Year are significant to Goa as a third of the coastal state's population is Roman Catholic by religious orientation.

Goa also hosts a string of popular electronic dance musical events in the latter half of December which annually record attendance of music lovers in hundreds of thousands.

Tendulkar's statement comes less than two weeks after media reported that the office of the Chief Electoral Officer had written to the Election Commission of India recommending elections to the Goa legislative assembly in the second week of February.

The BJP, with 21 legislators is currently occupying the treasury benches in the 40-member Goa legislative assembly, along with its coalition partners which includes the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party, a regional political outfit and two independent legislators.

The BJP romped to power in the March 2012 state assembly elections to win its highest ever tally of 21 seats.