PANJIM: A total of 192 candidates are set to contest the ensuing Zilla Panchayat elections in Goa, after 63 candidates opted out of the race on Monday, the day set for withdrawal of nominations.
Final statistics released by the State Election Commission revealed that 93 candidates will contest for the 25 North Goa ZP seats and 99 will contest for the 25 South Goa ZP seats.
A total of 29 candidates from North and 34 from South Goa districts withdrew their candidature. A maximum 11 candidates each from Ponda and Salcete opted out of the ZP election, followed by nine in Tiswadi and other talukas.
Over 7.79 lakh voters will cast their votes through ballot papers across 1207 polling booths in 50 wards. The elections for ZP are scheduled on March 18 while counting will be taken up on March 20.
