Assembly polls in Goa to be held after Panchayat polls: EC

New Delhi, Apr 3 (UNI) The Election Commission today said it would not interfere with the process of Panchayat elections as the Goa Assembly polls will only be held after the local body elections are over.

An assurance to this effect was given to a BJP delegation which met Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswamy here to seek early declaration of election dates for the state Assembly polls in view of confusion created due to holding of Panchayat polls.

The delegation was led by the party spokeman and incharge of Goa elections Rajiv Pratap Rudy.

The CEC told the delegation that the the EC would not do anything to interfere with the Panchayat polls notified by the state EC saying the Assembly polls would only take place after conclusion of the local body elections.

However, the EC also took note of large scale transfers, postings and announcement of developmental schemes by the state government.

Mr Rudy welcomed the decision ending poll uncertainty.

The EC also promised that it would take all precautions to avoid overlapping of state elections because of the possibility of early monsoons.

UNI