Goa govt allows ZP polls to be held on party lines

Goa Government today amended the Representation of People's Act allowing the political parties to fight Zilla Panchayat polls which are scheduled in March.
"We have approved the amendment to the Act allowing the ZP elections to be fought on party lines. This will curb the increasing instability in these bodies," Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar told reporters after attending the cabinet meeting here this afternoon.
The decision came days after BJP's state level 'chintan baithak' (brainstorming session) supported holding of ZP elections on party lines.
Parsekar said the amendment has been made to section 2 of the Representation of People's Act which will allow representatives of party to fight polls using symbol, along with independent candidates.

He said the amendment will also bring these grassroot-level bodies under the purview of stringent Anti-Defection Act, ending the constant instability in these bodies.
The cabinet also approved an amendment to section 170 of the Representation of People's Act reducing the number of ZP constituencies in South Goa and increasing them in North Goa district.

South Goa had 20 constituencies and North Goa 30.
Parsekar said both the districts will have 25 constituencies each and the delimitation process will be notified soon.
"We will denotify the constituencies (and) accept objections and suggestions from people," the chief minister stated.