72.62% cast ballot
PANJIM, OCT 31
The elections to 11 municipal councils in the State received encouraging response with 72.62 per cent voters exercising their franchise.
According to the election officials the polling process was peaceful in all barring some minor incidents in Mapusa, Margao and Vasco. With the votes sealed, all eyes are now on counting of votes which will be held on Monday.
Pernem Municipal Council witnessed highest percentage of voting with 88.03 per cent voters turning up for the polling today.
On the other hand Margao Municipal Council witnessed lowest turnout today with only 57.76 per cent voters exercising their right to elect the new council.
State Election Commissioner Dr M Modassir claimed that the electioneering remained peaceful and there was no untoward incident reported throughout the day.
He said that the polling was more in the areas where the number of voters are less.
“Only one person was arrested at Sada in Mormugao Municipal Council area for disturbing the election process,” the Commissioner said adding minor incidents of law and order issues were also reported from areas of Margao, Vasco and Mapusa.
For majority of the councils, he said, the percentage was hovering around 70 per cent.
“Perhaps this is an example that we can boast for rest of the country that without any violence we have been able to complete the election process with majority of the municipal councils,” he said adding that hopefully one day whole country will emulate this example.
Valpoi voters who came in large number for the recent by-polls repeated their performance this time too.
For Valpoi Municipal Council, 82.49 per cent voters exercised their franchise. It became the second highest polling percentage in the State.
Bicholim Municipal Council had 78.39 per cent, Quepem (72.05%), Curchorem (71.89%), Sanguem (77.08%), Mapusa (67.07%), Canacona (78.06%), Cuncolim (66.34%) and Vasco (59.13%) respectively.
