Panaji: The State Election Commission (SEC) on Thursday notified the delimitation of wards for the ensuing general elections to 11 municipal councils in Goa, paving the way for govt to proceed with the polls.The notification covers Mormugao, Margao, Mapusa, Curchorem-Cacora, Bicholim, Cuncolim, Quepem, Canacona, Valpoi, Pernem and Sanguem municipal councils. It specifies the areas, assembly constituency parts and house numbers falling within each ward.The Bombay high court has directed the SEC to complete the municipal election process by Jan 2.As per the recently notified Goa Municipalities (Amendment) Act, 2026, the number of councillors and delimitation of wards have been determined based on the total population of each municipal area rather than the number of registered voters.The terms of the present councillors expired in April, following which govt appointed administrators for municipal councils. Under election norms, fresh elections should have been held before the expiry of the councils’ terms.The delay in holding the elections prompted two writ petitions before the high court. One of the petitioners contended that the failure to conduct the municipal council elections amounted to a direct breach of Article 243U of the Constitution, which requires municipal elections to be completed before the expiry of a council’s term.Meanwhile, govt had introduced an ordinance on April 23 to rework the formula for redrawing municipal ward boundaries. Opposition parties had objected to the ordinance, claiming that the new procedure could delay the election process by at least six months.
