Team Herald
PANJIM/VASCO: A 73.43 percent turnout was recorded for the elections held in 15 wards of 11 village panchayats on Saturday. The counting for all the wards of the 11 panchayats will be held on Sunday.
As per information available with the State Election Commission (SEC) office, a total of 7801 votes were polled. Women voters were more than male voters, with 4098 of the former voting and 3703 of the latter. In all 51 candidates were in the fray in the 15 wards, while one women candidate Leticia Miranda from ward III of Betalbatim panchayat was elected unopposed.
Ward I of Curca-Bambolim panchayat with two candidates recorded the highest turnout of 94.18 percent, while Penha-de-Franca (Ward VIII & IX) with three candidates each in the two wards recorded the lowest 63.49 percent.
Bastora VP (Ward I) recorded 80.19 percent, Anjuna-Caisua (Ward I) witnessed 75.30 percent turnout, Merces (Ward VI) polled 69.86 percent, Advalpal (Ward V) reported 86.10 percent, Betki-Khandola (Ward V & VI) recorded 83.55 percent, Nuvem (Ward X) witnessed 80.97 percent, Betalbatim (Ward V, VII) saw 69.08 percent, Chandor (Ward V) recorded 69.01 percent and Sancoale (Ward V & VI) witnessed 73.95 percent turnout.
Counting on Sunday will take place in nine places in six talukas. In Bicholim counting is scheduled at the Mamlatdar’s office, in Bardez counting will take place at three different centers of the Sports Complex, Peddem, In Tiswadi counting will be held at Pharmacy College, in Ponda it will held be at the Mamlatdar office, in Salcette it will be at the District Collectorate building and in Mormugao it will be at MPT Institute hall.
In Sancoale, the electorate from the two remaining wards (ward 5 reserved for women and ward 6 general) came out to vote in large numbers on Saturday.
An estimated 73.95 percent voters cast their ballots and sealed the fate of 8 candidates from these two wards. Polling was held in a free, fair and peaceful manner in both the polling centres in Sancoale.
Polling started at 8 am with people turning out in huge numbers in the first two hours, however in the afternoon it dropped but picked up after lunch.
The polls were held following directions from the High Court that had stayed the elections in these 15 wards.
