PANJIM: As many as 17,500 odd postal ballot votes of government
servants and police personnel will play a crucial role in deciding the fate of
251 candidates, who are in the fray from 40-assembly constituencies. Only 3,300
postal ballots have been received till date, ten days after the voting held on
February 4- with the last date for casting the ballot being March 11-the
counting day.
Sources at the Chief Electoral Office (CEO) confirmed that
there are 9,121 postal ballots in South Goa, of which only 2,500 casting their
right so far, while 800 postal ballots from the total 8,469 been received from
North Goa.
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“Over 17,590 postal ballots have been issued to government
employees and police personnel across the states who were engaged in election duty
on February 4. The officers were posted at 1,642 polling stations,” sources
said confirming that the employees have time till morning on March 11 to send
in their postal ballots.
The Marcaim constituency has the highest number of postal
ballot which is 826, followed by Pernem 840, Poriem with 808 ballots and 804
votes in Canacona.
The Marcaim constituency is ruled by MGP for past many
years, while Pernem constituency saw BJP gaining victory in the last election
in 2012. The postal ballot will play a crucial role in Pernem, as the BJP
sitting MLA and Minister Rajendra Arlekar facing tough fight from his
competitor Manohar Assgaonkar who is contesting on MGP-GSM ticket.
Poriem sitting MLA Pratapsingh Rane had raised serious
concern about the delay in casting postal ballot and had raised fear of
possible influence or purchase of votes by the ruling BJP. “This is first time
in my career, I have seen such long time granted for postal ballot. This needs
to be seriously monitored by the election commission. I have every doubt that
the votes would be purchased by the opponents,” he had said.
In Canacona constituency too, the postal ballot will play
major rule- with ruling BJP facing revolt and possible split of votes between
BJP’s Vijay Pai Khot and rebellion Ramesh Tawadkar.
There are also around 761 postal ballots in Chief Minister
Laxmikant Parsekar’s Mandrem constituency. This is followed by Priol (675), Sanvordem
(589), Quepem (580), Ponda (568), Bicholim (542) and Shiroda (507).
Calangute constituency, the only assembly seat that saw
triangular fight, has the least number of postal ballot that is 130, followed
by Benaulim- 131 and Navelim 218. Nuvem has 225 postal ballots, Saligao 237,
Velim has 240, Mapusa has 262, St Andre has 281.
There are total 1310 postal ballots distributed amongst
Vasco, Dabolim, Mormugao and Cortalim assembly seats. Margao and Fatorda
together has 807 postal ballots.
The voter post casting postal ballot has to sign a
declaration Form 13A in the presence of a stipendiary magistrate and get it
attested by the magistrate.
