PANJIM, OCT 31
The elections to the municipal councils passed off peacefully with no untoward incident reported, except for some stray incidents in Canacona and Vasco.
According to reports, tension flared-up in at least two polling booths, but was averted with timely intervention of polling officers in Canacona.
In Vasco, one person from Headland Sada was arrested under Section 151 of CrPC for allegedly campaigning during voting at a polling booth in Ward 5. He was later released after producing before the Magistrate.
SANGUEM
The elections to the 10-member Sanguem Municipal Council (SMC) witnessed a voting percentage of 77.08.
The SMC elections saw a voting percentage of 77.08 with 3,898 of the total 5,049 voters exercising their franchise to decide the fate of 37 candidates, who are in fray for the 10 wards.
In Ward 1, 313 voters voted out of the total 430, while in Ward 2, the voting was 494 of the 687. Ward 3 accounted for 289 of the total 353. Ward 4 – 571/695, Ward 5 – 360/463, Ward 6 – 356/475, Ward 7 – 484/635, Ward 8 – 250/368, Ward 9 – 278/346 and Ward 10 – 493/596.
Incidentally, unlike in the neighbouring Curchorem Cacora Municipal Council elections, where camps by the aspiring candidates could be seen donning the road from Cacora to Curchorem with tables by the side of the road, none of the wards in SMC elections were seen camping near the booths with a table or chair.
The contesting candidates and their supporters were however seen near the booths ferrying their voters.
The SMC election has as many as five outgoing councilors trying their luck all over again. They include Sanjay Raikar, Queroz Cruz, Agnelo F G Da Costa, Harsha Dilesh Sambhari and Sauryadatt Naik. Former Chairperson Minguelinho D’Costa and Vice Chairperson Vincent D’Costa (John D’Costa) are also in the list of the contesting candidates.
VALPOI
The elections to the nine wards of Valpoi Municipal Council witnessed a voting percentage of 82.49.
A large numbers of voters from Valpoi cast their votes in the elections, which passed off peacefully. The voting percentage in almost all the booths had crossed 70% by 1 pm.
Sources from mamlatdar’s office informed that the election was conducted in nine booths (Nanus – 2, Valpoi – 6 and Velus -1).
In most of the wards, all the wards, except Wards 6 and 7, the voting crossed 80 per cent. The highest voting was recorded in Ward 4 (92.1%) and the lowest in Ward 7 (75.67%).
When contacted, Valpoi PI Shivram Vaigankar informed that the election was conducted peacefully and no untoward incident occurred and also no FIR against any candidate or person was filed on Saturday.
Almost all the 37 candidates, who are in the fray, were seen stationed near various polling booths throughout the day till 5 pm, while their supporters were seen transporting voters in four-wheelers to the polling stations.
Even aged and sick or disabled people were brought to the polling booths by their relatives.
It may be recalled that Baptise Dias was declared elected unopposed from Ward 3.
CANACONA
The 10-member Canacona Municipal Council (CMC) witnessed a voting percentage of 78.06, as no untoward incident was reported even though there were stray incidents in at least three wards.
The highest voting is at Kindlebhat-Tarir (Ward 6), where 714 (89.70%) of the 796 voters turned up in polling booth situated at Government Primary School, Kindlebag.
The lowest voting was at Ward 3 (Mastimol), where 993 of the 1,460 voters turned to vote.
Incidentally, the ST reserved ward of Mastimoll has the highest voters in CMC.
“It is a fairly incident-free polling day in Canacona,” said Observer Y B Tawade in the presence of Returning Officer and Deputy Collector Shiv Kumar at the ballot boxes collection centre.
Assistant Returning Officer and Canacona Mamlatdar C S Shetkar informed that there were no challenges to any voters, no impersonations or any matter of concern reported from anywhere.
Incidentally, IDMT Hall of CMC at Chaudi is the collection and counting centre.
The ward wise voting percentage is Ward 1 (76.48%), Ward 2 (76.04%), Ward 3 (68.01%), Ward 4 (68.31%), Ward 5 (87.60%), Ward 6 (89.70%), Ward 7 (79.45%), Ward 8 (85.01%), Ward 9 (77.49%) and Ward 10 (84.37%).
The voting was brisk during the first four hours, as 18.25% of voters turned up to vote till 12 pm, but later the voting picked up and it was recorded at 55.85 % at 3 pm.
Incidentally, eight of the 10 polling booths are situated at different government primary booths, while voting for Wards 9 (Palolem) and 10 (Palolem-Devabhag) was held in two different wings (east and west) of Government Middle School, Palolem.
BICHOLIM
The elections to the 10 wards of Bicholim Municipal Council (BMC) passed off peacefully with an overall 78.39 per cent of voters casting their votes.
As many as 42 candidates are in the fray.
In most of the polling booths on Sunday morning, there was a lukewarm response of voters. Most of the voters exercised their franchise in the evening.
According to Bicholim Mamlatdar Pramod Bhat, of the 11,263 (5,784 – males and 5,479 – females), 8,829 voters exercised their votes.
The percentage of votes cast in each of the ward are Ward 1 (81.63%), Ward 2 (80.63%), Ward 3 (78.96%), Ward 4 (83.14%), Ward 5 (67.42%), Ward 6 (71.72%), Ward 7 (81.52%), Ward 8 (72.84%), Ward 9 (88.34%) and Ward 10 (84.26%).
Ward 5 recorded lowest percentage of voting (67.42%), while Ward 9 recorded highest percentage of voting (88.34%). Male voters outnumbered female voters with 4,569 males casting their votes against 4,260 females.
Interestingly, some old women were seen actively participating in the voting. One Indira Yeshwant Mandrekar (107) of Dhabdabo Bicholim cast her vote. Besides, there were some handicapped persons who also exercised their voting right.
The fate of some of the prominent councillors and seasoned politicians, including Chairman Satish Gaonkar, councillors including Kamlakar Teli, Ajit Birje, Jayendranath Govekar and Usha Kadkade is at stake.
According to reports, no untoward incident was reported in Bicholim and the candidates along with their supporters were urged to remain away from the polling booths.
All the establishments within 100 mtrs remained closed. A strong police force was also stationed near the booths. Bicholim PI Harish Madkaikar personally kept vigil in the taluka.
Counting of votes for both, Bicholim and Valpoi Municipal Councils, would be held on Monday at Bicholim Municipal Council Hall from 8 am.
QUEPEM
The polling to the 10-member Quepem Municipal Council passed off peacefully with an overall 72 per cent of voters casting their votes.
In most of the polling booths, heavy rush was seen since early Sunday morning. Most of the shops in Quepem town remained closed throughout the day, as there were polling booths in Quepem town, which caused inconvenience to the people.
Meanwhile, in Ward 9, one of the candidates has filed a complaint against another contesting candidate, alleging that one of his supporters was kidnapped.
PORVORIM
The elections to the 15-member Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) passed off peacefully, witnessing a voting percentage of 67.5.
As many as 35 polling stations remained crowded with voters throughout the day on Sunday. There are 52 candidates in the fray, including 26 women, for 15 wards of MMC.
Of the 29,313, 19,785 voters have cast their votes, registering a voting percentage of 67.5.
The ward wise percentage is Ward 1 (61.3 %), Ward 2 (66%), Ward 3 (72%), Ward 4 (65.4%), Ward 5 (69.6 %), Ward 6 (54.8 %), Ward 7 (76.4%), Ward 8 (66.6%), Ward 9 (73.6%), Ward 10 (67.4%), Ward 11 (52%), Ward 12 (73.8 %), Ward 13 (74.7%), Ward 14 (72.4%) and Ward 15 (63.6%).
Bardez Mamlatdar Gaurish Shankhwalker informed that polling was peaceful in all the 15 wards.
The counting of votes will begin at 8 am on Monday in the communidade hall Mapusa and at a time, counting of four wards will be taken up.
Meanwhile, Shabbir Ainapure, who is contesting from Ward 2, has lodged a complaint with Deputy Collector Dashrath Redkar against candidate Subhash Narvekar alleging that Narvekar made use of tricolour flag in the manifesto, which he distributed to the voters.
“The investigation in this regard is in progress,” said Mamlatdar Shankhwalker.
When contacted, police sources admitted that they have received a complaint from the deputy collector. However, printing tricolour flag on the manifesto does not amount to offence and hence it cannot be registered.
PERNEM
The election to nine wards of Pernem Municipal Council (PMC) was peaceful, as 88.03 per cent voters cast their votes.
As many as 43 candidates, including 13 male and 13 female, are in the fray. The election to Ward 9 has been kept on hold, as no nomination of ST candidate was found to be valid.
According to sources, of the 3,307, 2,911 votes cast their votes.
The ward wise voting percentage was Ward 1 (90.16%), Ward 2 (85.95%), Ward 3 (88.57%),
Ward 4 (84.74%), Ward 5 (90.53%), Ward 6 (88.91%), Ward 7 (91.96%), Ward 8 (87.22%) and Ward 10 (84.20%).
CURCHOREM
The voting to the 12-member Curchorem-Cacora Municipal Council witnessed a voting percentage of 71.69.
The voting to all the 12 wards of CCMC was peaceful and no untoward incident was reported. The highest voting percentage was recorded in Ward 5 (83.76), while the lowest was recorded in Ward 9 (60.67).
Curchorem PI Bhanudas Dessai along with his staff maintained law and order in the area.
VASCO
Voting for the Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) election, which was considered to be a one of the sensitive municipal councils in the State, was by and large peaceful without any untoward incident.
Of the 60,001 voters, 35,481 voters cast their votes, registering a percentage of 59.02. Voters of Ward 14 had a free day as their candidate Manesh Arolkar was elected unopposed.
The 59.02 per cent was slightly lower then what was expected by the election officer, but they claimed that it was satisfactory.
Ward 2 recorded a maximum voting with 70.78 per cent and Ward 7, which is reserved for women ST candidate, recorded 44.43 per cent.
Wards 15 and 16, from where Revenue Minister Jose Philip D’Souza’s wife Neny and his elder brother Pascoal are contesting and declared hyper sensitive, the voting was peaceful voting, while Ward 9 also had smoothing voting process.
However, there were complaints that election officers were lethargic, as they consumed a considerable time and slowed down the voting process, as voting ended at about 7.30 pm in Ward 5, while in others wards, voters had to wait for hours to franchise their votes.
“There were no reports of untoward incident, as all precautionary measures were taken. Collector South G P Naik along SP South Allen De Sa were present in Vasco till late Saturday night and Sunday morning,” informed Mormugao Election Returning Officer Levinson Martins.
Martins informed that one Mahesh Kashar of Headland Sada was arrested under Section 151 of CrPC for allegedly campaigning during voting at a polling booth in Ward 5. He was later released after producing before the Magistrate.
Martins further informed that adequate precautionary measures were taken to ensure smooth voting process.
When asked whether were complaints about slow voting process in some of the booths, Martins claimed that at few polling booths, the voting process was slow in the morning.
“Personally, I was expecting higher turnout, but 59.02 per cent was also not a bad turnover,” added Martins.
He ruled out Revenue Minister Jose Philip D’Souza and former tourism Minister Micky Pacheco spat had any impact on the turnout of voters.
(With inputs from Alfred Fernandes, Samir Umarye, Anil Shankwalker, Ashraf Khan, Kathy Pereira, Arun Naik, Taurappa Lamani, Suresh Naik and John Fernandes)
