TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: With Narendra Modi team sweeping to power in what could be India’s biggest win at Lok Sabha elections, Goa saw 10103 NOTA (none of the above) votes being cast in each of the 40 constituencies where the poll battle was largely between BJP and Congress.
On an average, 200 NOTA votes were recorded with maximum 426 at Poriem followed by 389 at Pernem, 363 at Priol, 362 at Mandrem and the least 112 in Shiroda constituency. Interestingly, this is the first time NOTA is being introduced this election following Supreme Court’s ruling last year to allow voters to exercise the NOTA option. The option will be available for the voters in all future elections as well including State elections.
BJP’s Shripad Naik’s North Goa seat that registered his victory by 105599 votes also saw 5770 electorates disapproving all the seven candidates in the fray.
While in the South where BJP’s Narendra Sawaikar clinched a 32330-margin win against his arch rival Aleixo Reginald Lourenco, witnessed 4333 NOTA votes.
Eight of the total constituencies had over 300 NOTA votes while the probable Union Cabinet Minister and the current Chief Minister of Goa Manohar Parrikar’s Panjim constituency recorded 249 NOTA votes. Interestingly, larger number of NOTA votes came from rural areas.
