New municipal wards to be based on population, not electorate numbers

Panaji: Goa State Election Commission (SEC) is likely to finalise new wards for 11 municipal councils based on the population in the municipal council areas next week and not on the number of electorates in the council areas. Earlier, SEC wards were created based on the number of electorates in the municipal areas.

A senior govt officer said the total number of wards would be notified next week. The SEC has received the population census, and is finalising the wards based on population, a senior govt officer said.

SEC had initiated the process for division of municipal area into wards for the general election to 11 municipal councils of Pernem, Valpoi, Bicholim, Mapusa, Mormugao, Margao, Cuncolim, Quepem, Canacona, Curchorem-Cacora and Sanguem.

“On the basis of the Goa Municipalities (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026 (Ordinance No. 4 of 2026), the delimitation process already carried out has become infructuous and the entire process of delimitation carried out is declared null and void,” Menino D’Souza, commissioner, SEC, said.

After the new wards are carved out, SEC will take up delimitation, followed by reservation and announcement of election for municipal councils.

One or two wards are likely to be added across 10 municipal councils ahead of the upcoming urban civic polls, depending on their classification. State govt has categorised municipal councils into A, B and C classes, with each category stipulating a specific range of wards.

The SEC has decided to increase two wards for Class A municipalities, one ward for Class B, except Mapusa Municipal Council, which already has 20 wards. An officer said that a municipality can’t have more than 20 wards.

“The final decision to increase the number of wards will be taken in consultation with state govt,” the officer said. The elections for Bicholim, Pernem, Valpoi, Cuncolim, Curchorem-Cacora and Canacona were held in March 2021, and for Mapusa, Margao, Quepem, Sanguem and Mormugao, they were held in April 2021. State govt has appointed administrators to the municipal councils whose tenure has come to an end.

TOI reported that state govt has notified the Goa Municipalities (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026, which will delay the elections for 11 municipalities scheduled to be held in May.