Tuesday, May 3 2005 09:56 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Election Commission (EC) yesterday (May 2, 2005) announced by polls for five Assembly seats in Goa on June 2. The outcome could rekindle efforts to form a popular Government in the State.

The five vacancies in Goa - Taleigao, Cambarjua, Benaulim, Margao and Poinguinim - have been caused following the resignation of incumbent members of Legislative Assembly in the month-long political drama.

The State was brought under President's rule and Assembly put under suspended animation following a hung verdict after the recent Assembly polls.

The EC also announced the schedule for by polls on June 2 for a Lok Sabha constituency in Shimoga, Karnataka and 12 other Assembly constituencies spread over Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Jammu and Kashmir.

Congress, which had ruled Goa just before President's rule was clamped in early March, has a strength of 17 seats with its allies in the 40-member House.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its partners also have 17 seats. The State has been rocked by repeated political turmoil with Congress and BJP enjoying razor-thin majority and frequent change of political loyalties by legislators belonging to either side of the political divide.

While Congress had demanded holding of early by polls in Goa, BJP pressed dissolution of the House and holding of fresh Assembly polls in the State.