Tuesday, August 30 2005 15:35 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Panaji: Following the High Court's intervention in the disqualification petition of United Goa Democratic Party (UGDP) MLA Mathany Saldanha, the Election Commission today decided to cancel the bypoll to Cortalim constituency, which was scheduled for September 26.

Saldanha, who was disqualified by Speaker Francisco Sardinha on August 9 had filed an appeal challenging the order of his disqualification in the Panaji bench of the Bombay High Court.

After the Election Commission had announced the bypolls, Saldanha filed his appeal and the Court allowed him to attend assembly proceedings "so as not to be disqualified," pending his petition.

Consequently, the legislature secretary had informed the Speaker that in view of the order, no vacancy existed in Cortalim constituency and hence the election commission had decided not to hold the by election, an official release said here.

Saldanha, a minister in the erstwhile Manohar Parrikar government was disqualified by Sardinha under provisions of the tenth schedule and a vacancy was reported to the EC on the very same day, the release added.