PANJIM: Curtains came down on Thursday evening on the hectic
political campaign for the ensuing February 4 polls. Total 251 candidates would
be battling for power in 40 assembly constituencies-with the Chief Electoral
Office (CEO) expecting a historical turnout on the polling day. The state is
witnessing four corner political fights with BJP, Congress, AAP and MGP and its
allies contesting on majority of the Seats.
The star-studded campaign which had BJP flying down whose
who from their party including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Amit Shah and
Congress banking on its young faces like Rahul Gandhi, Jyotiradiya Scindia and
Sachin Pilot to garner the votes came to an end on Thursday at 5.00pm. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)’s star campaigner Arvind
Kejriwal along with his cabinet team had series of meeting in Goa.
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MGP-GSM-Shiv Sena had its show of strength by holding public
meetings of Uddhav Thackarey while NCP supremo Sharad Pawar too addressed two
rallies in Goa.
The campaigning saw Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar
throwing his weight around trying to create the magic of 2012 polls which saw
him leading the voting charts bringing in historical victory for his party. The
BJP high command has even hinted about Parrikar’s possible home coming to State
politics.
“The campaigning for the poll has ended at 5.00pm. Any
campaigning by the political parties or independent candidates would be
considered as violation of modal code of conduct,” Additional CEO Narayan Navti
told HERALD.
AAP which was the first political party to begin its
campaigning in the State is contesting on 39 seats;- the maximum number of
seats by the political party. Congress has fielded candidates on 37 seats
supporting three candidates- Porvorim, Siolim and Panjim.
BJP which is in the ruling has fielded candidates in 36
constituencies while supporting Independents in Catholic voters dominated
constituencies. The new found alliance between MGP, Rebel RSS leader Subhash
Velingkar’s Goa Suraksha Manch and Shiv Sena is contesting on 37 seats.
NCP is contesting on 17 seats. Also 58 independent and 26
candidates from the regional fronts are in the fray.
The counting would be held on March 11.
Navti said that total 11.08lakh voters are eligible to cast
their vote on the polling day. “The polling will be held on 1642 booths, which
would be hundred percent webcast,” he said.
Goa is going to be the first State to have webcasting of
polling in all 40 constituencies, while will be the only State to cover all
booths with VVPAT- Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail.
The coastal State is also going to be the first one in the
country to have pink polling booths for women. One polling booth in each
constituency has been identified which will be exclusively reserved for women.
State has around 5.62 lakh female voters.
“We have around 650 reserve polling booths and VVPAT and EVM
machines in place in case of emergency,” Navti said adding ‘to ensure that
people are not put to hardship, the replacement would be in place within 10-15
mints’.
“The polling will take place from 7.00am to 5.00pm on
Saturday,” he informed.
As many as 14,000 poll related employees are on duty which
includes election observers in all 40 constituencies. Also another 1750
staffers would be monitoring the polling through video camps.
The state will observe dry day from Thursday evening till
Sunday 12.00am. All the liquor shops, bar and restaurants are directed not to
serve or sale liquor during the period.
The district administration both North and
South Go has imposed Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 from 5.00 a.m. of
February 2, 2017 to 9.00 p.m. of February 4, 2017 in
all Assembly Constituencies. The
candidates are asked not to ply their campaigning vehicles during the period.
It has also order ban on sale of liquor during this time.
