Panaji, Jan 14 (IANS): The Congress in Goa wants the bye-election for the Panaji legislative assembly seat postponed to a date after Feb 13, saying the model code of conduct would hamper the Valentine's Day celebration and the Goa Carnival Feb 14.

The Congress has written a letter to the Election Commission asking for the bypolls to be postponed, party leader Sunil Kawthankar said at a press conference Tuesday.

"The model code of conduct for the bypoll stretches up to Feb 16, which will affect proper celebration of the carnival as well as Valentine's Day," he said.

The bypoll was necessitated following the elevation of then chief minister Manohar Parrikar, who had won from the seat for the fifth consecutive time, as defence minister in the Narendra Modi government.

While Valentine's Day is celebrated globally Feb 14 for the love the day symbolises, the carnival is symbolic of Goa's colonial Portuguese legacy and is held before the holy season of Lent.

The festival includes long parades of gaily coloured floats, led by King Momo or the king of the carnival.