Goa, April 9 -- Reacting to the cancellation of the Ponda by-election, Utpal Parrikar said the development did not come as a surprise and maintained that the election should have been conducted much earlier.

Speaking on the issue, Parrikar pointed out that if the Election Commission of India had to properly announce the poll schedule, there should have been at least one year remaining in the tenure of the sitting MLA.

He suggested that the delay in holding the by-election led to the present situation, ultimately resulting in its cancellation following legal intervention.

Parrikar also placed responsibility for the developments on the government, stating that timely action could have avoided the current outcome.

The remarks come amid o...