PANJIM: All eyes are on the five municipal councils that went to polls on Friday and whose results will be announced today (April 26).
Besides the municipal elections of Mormugao, Margao, Mapusa, Quepem and Sanguem Municipal Councils, by-polls of Ward 2 of Karapur-Sarvan panchayat in Bicholim taluka and Ward 4 of Velim panchayat in Salcete taluka were also held on Friday.
To ensure COVID SOPs are followed, the State Election Commission (SEC) has decided to hold the counting of votes in a staggered manner. A detailed programme had been released for each municipality regarding which wards will be taken up for counting at what time and how many polling booths will be in place etc. Counting will begin at 8 am at all municipalities while the same will end at different times at different municipalities, although the final counting is at 4 pm at Margao municipality.
In municipalities like Sanguem, as per SEC’s order, counting is to end at 11.15 am.
The district administration has already issued orders prohibiting celebrations in large gatherings or public rallies after the results are announced.
It may be recalled that an estimated 71.47% of eligible voters cast their votes in the five municipal councils. Sanguem reported 81.48% voter turnout; Quepem 78.01% ; Mapusa: 68.57%; Mormugao: 65.04% ; and Margao: 64.25%. Ward 2 of Karapur-Sarvan panchayat recorded 85.96 voter turnout while ward 4 of Velim panchayat recorded 65.59%.
While the elections were not fought on party lines, political leaders of various parties have already expressed confidence that candidates backed by them will emerge triumphant.
BJP state president Sadanand Shet Tanavade had claimed that BJP would win the polls in all the municipal councils.
The results are also seen by political experts as a semi-final to the forthcoming Assembly elections.
While BJP has its MLAs in Mapusa, Mormugao and Quepem, Congress has its MLA in Margao, Goa Forward Party (GFP) has its in Fatorda and Sanguem is represented by an Independent MLA.