Goa Election 2022: Voting concludes with 78.94% turnout
Polling began at 7 am in Goa today and conclude at 6 pm. 301 candidates are in the fray for the 40 Assembly seats. CM Pramod Sawant said he's confident of BJP's win.
PM Narendra Modi at Kanpur rally derides TMC for saying that the party intends to 'divide' Hindu votes in Goa.
The Sankhalim constituency (North Goa), represented by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, recorded the highest 33 per cent voting so far since morning (till 11 am), followed by Sanguem (South Goa) where 32.87 per cent votes were polled, officials of the Election Commission said. Sanvordem and Benaulim constituencies (South Goa) recorded a low turnout of 22.85 per cent and 22.96 per cent, respectively, as per official figures.
"People are voting enthusiastically to defeat corruption, we will witness sea-change; let's wait for March 10 results," said Aam Aadmi Party's CM candidate Amit Palekar.
"People voting not for constituency but for Goa. When we talk about Goa, we talk about boys and girls who are unemployed, about mining being closed for the last 10 years, about problems in the tourism industry. People are going to vote for future," said Congress candidate from Calangute, Michael Lobo.
Congress candidate from Calangute, Michael Lobo and his wife Delilah Lobo cast their vote at a polling booth in the constituency.#GoaElection2022 pic.twitter.com/jDKjr57Wig
— ANI (@ANI) February 14, 2022
Aam Aadmi Party CM candidate Amit Palekar and his mother cast their vote in Goa Assembly polls. Palekar said, "This is our moment to bring a change."
Goa | Aam Aadmi Party CM candidate Amit Palekar along with his mother casts his vote in Assembly elections, says, "This is our moment to bring a change". pic.twitter.com/a6xKeXaDSt
— ANI (@ANI) February 14, 2022
"Polling process is peaceful with 11.04% voter turnout so far (9 am). We want more and more people to vote this time, expecting record-breaking voting. 5 Control Units, 11 VVPATs replaced during mock polls, this is a normal procedure," Kunal, Chief Electoral Officer, Goa, told ANI.
Mandrem recorded a voter turnout of 12.91 per cent while around 12.81 per cent of voters participated in polling in the Sanguem constituency, as per the Election Commission of India.
With the commencement of polling in Goa, the voter turnout in all the 40 Assembly constituencies of the coastal state stood at 11.04 per cent till 9 am, according to the Election Commission of India. Sanquelim from where Chief Minister Pramod Sawant is contesting the Goa Assembly elections witnessed the highest percentage of voters' turnout of 14.32 per cent till the time while 14.26 per cent of people cast their votes in the Priol constituency.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant exercised his franchise rights, casts his vote in Kothambi.
Goa CM Pramod Sawant casts his vote in Kothambi #GoaElections2022 pic.twitter.com/6m1qTcJmdn
— ANI (@ANI) February 14, 2022
Goa Health Minister Vishwajit Rane casts his vote at GPS Vithalapur Karapur Primary School in Maem Assembly constituency.
Goa Health Minister Vishwajit Rane casts his vote at booth number 42, GPS Vithalapur Karapur Primary School in Maem Assembly constituency, for #GoaElections2022 pic.twitter.com/XGOPUtz5UU
— ANI (@ANI) February 14, 2022
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had appealed to the voters in Goa - as well as Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand - to cast their ballots in the Assembly elections in the three states to "strengthen the festival of democracy".
As voting is underway in the state, Goa CM Pramod Sawant and his wife Sulakshana Sawant offered prayers at Shree Rudreshwar Devasthan, Harvalem.
Goa CM Pramod Sawant and his wife Sulakshana Sawant offer prayers at Shree Rudreshwar Devasthan, Harvalem. Voting for #GoaElections2022 is underway. pic.twitter.com/BTgqnCGIyh
— ANI (@ANI) February 14, 2022
Utpal Parrikar, son of former Goa CM late Manohar Parrikar who's contesting as an Independent candidate, visits polling booths in Panaji.
Utpal Parrikar, son of former Goa CM late Manohar Parrikar visits polling booths in Panaji. He is contesting as an independent candidate in the constituency.#GoaElections2022 pic.twitter.com/7sxzdtLHmN
— ANI (@ANI) February 14, 2022
Home Minister Amit Shah said, "I urge our sisters and brothers of Goa, to vote in large numbers. Only a stable, decisive and corruption-free government can ensure the development of the state. So come out and vote for a prosperous Goa."
"People in Goa are cooperative. There are no major political clashes. The elections will be free and fair. The ECI and all political parties deserve appreciation. This year I expect more people will come to the polling booths," Goa Governor PS Sreedharan Pillai told ANI.
Goa CM Pramod Sawant said, "PM Modi called me in the morning today to give his best wishes. I'm fully confident that BJP will win 22+ seats. The infrastructure development by BJP in 10 years and PM Modi's self-reliant vision will definitely benefit us with a 100% majority."
Goa Governor PS Sreedharan Pillai and his wife Reetha Sreedharan cast their votes at polling booth number 15 of Taleigao Assembly Constituency.
Goa Governor PS Sreedharan Pillai and his wife Reetha Sreedharan cast their votes at polling booth number 15 of Taleigao Assembly Constituency#GoaElections2022 pic.twitter.com/IGhPWBS04O
— ANI (@ANI) February 14, 2022
The state had recorded 82.56 per cent turnout during the 2017 elections. Congress had then won 17 seats. The BJP, which bagged 13 seats, was quick to stitch up an alliance with some regional outfits and independents to form government in the state.
The Congress and the Goa Forward Party (GFP) are fighting the election in alliance, while the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC has tied-up with the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) to contest the polls. The Shiv Sena and the NCP had also announced their pre-poll alliance, while the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP is contesting without a tie-up with any other political party. The Revolutionary Goans, Goencho Swabhimaan Party, Jai Mahabharat Party and Sambhaji Brigade are also in the poll fray, besides 68 independent candidates.
The average number of eligible voters per booth in Goa is 672, which is the lowest in the country, a poll official said. The Vasco Assembly constituency has the highest number of 35,139 eligible voters, while the Mormugao seat has the lowest number of voters at 19,958, he said.
To check the spread of COVID-19, voters have been provided hand gloves at the polling stations, an election official said. Over 100 'all-women' polling booths have been set up in the state for the convenience of female voters.
