PANJIM: The Panjim by-election saw around 71 per cent voting on Friday, with voters lining up at polling booths from 8 am when polling started. In the 2012 Assembly elections, 77.13 per cent of voters had exercised their franchise.
A total of 15,704 of the over 22,000 voters voted to elect the next Panjim MLA, with males recording a higher voting percentage than females.
The poll was largely peaceful, joint chief electoral officer Narayan Navti told media after the polls.
The by-election was necessitated after long-time MLA and former chief minister Manohar Parrikar was elevated as Defence Minister in the Narendra Modi government late last year.
The 30 booths saw brisk polling, especially at Mala, Boca de Vaca and Home Science college, Campal recording around 50% voting till 11 am though the overall percentage was 33 per cent till that hour.
The main tussle in the four-cornered contest is between Parrikar’s close aide Sidharth Kuncalienker who is contesting on a BJP ticket against Panjim Mayor Surendra Furtado who is contesting on a Congress ticket. There are two independents also in the fray – Margao-based IITian Samir Kelekar and advocate Sadanand Vaingankar.
The ballot boxes have been sealed and kept at the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG) till counting of votes takes place on February 16.
