Significant Elections: The Goa assembly elections will assume importance because the election will take place in June whereas the general elections will take place in September October. It may be pointed out that BJP and its allies were demanding elections in June in whole of the country hoping they will be able to convert the so-called sympathy for Vajpayee into votes in the election which will sail them to power once more. But the election commission had decided to hold the election later. Although in the Goa, where regional parties do matter in the elections and the elections is likely to take place on the local and state issues, their would be attempt to bring the national issues in the center stage and on the basis of the result in the assembly a general impression will be tried to be projected. Although Goa is a small state geographically.

Goa was placed under the presidents rule on 10th February 1999. The state legislative assembly was simultaneously dissolved.Both the houses of parliament approved this subsequently.Under the constitutional provisions, a new assembly has to meet before 9th of August 1999.

According to election commission the chief election commissioner has visited Goa on 20th and 21st March 1999. During his tour, he had detailed discussions with the governor , representatives of political parties, members of public, key officials of the Goa government and the election machinery in connection with the preparations for elections to a new state assembly.

Immediately after the dissolution of the assembly, all major parties had asked for early elections. This view was echoed in the parliament when the presidential proclamation was approved. The central government has separately requested the commission to complete the process and hold the elections to legislative assembly of Goa as early as possible. The governor of Goa has also indicated to the chief election commissioner during this visit and subsequently that the elections should be held in good time.

The election commissions said that during the recently held consultations with the political parties on the 3rd of this month, there was unanimity among party representatives to hold elections to Goa assembly immediately.

The commission after taking into consideration all relevant factors had decided to hold the elections for the Goa assembly , Notification on 10th May, last date for filling nominations 17th May, scrutiny of nominations 18th May, withdrawal of candidates 20th May, date of poll on 6th June ,counting of votes on 6th June and date before which the elections shall be completed.

The election commission of India had earlier introduced use of electronic voting machines for the purpose of conduct of elections in a large number of constituencies during N ovum ER 1998 in Madly Prudish, Rajasthan and the Delhi when new assemblies were elected for these states. According to election commission the experiment was highly successful and the their step was welcomed by one and all. The commisions used the electronic voting machines once again in large number of constituencies which went to polls for bye elections during February 1999. According to the commission it has already initiated preparatory steps for use of electronic voting machines in Goa and the chief election commissioner during his tour inaugurated a demonstration center for the working of electronic voting machines in Panaji. All the political parties and the public of Goa have welcomes the possibility of use of electronic voting machines for the elections to the state assembly,