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.
Panaji: Goa on Monday (February 14) concluded the voting for Assembly polls 2022 with a 78.94% turnout. 301 candidates were in the fray for the 40 Assembly seats, election officials said. Over 11 lakh people were eligible to cast their votes. They include 9,590 persons with disabilities, 2,997 aged over 80 years, 41 sex workers and nine transgenders. The counting of votes will take place on March 10. Goa is witnessing a multi-cornered contest, with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and other smaller parties vying to make a mark on the state's electoral scene.
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The prominent candidates include Chief Minister Pramod Sawant (BJP), Leader of the Opposition Digambar Kamat (Congress), former CMs Churchill Alemao (TMC), Ravi Naik (BJP), Laxmikant Parsekar (independent), former deputy CMs Vijai Sardesai (GFP) and Sudin Dhavalikar (MGP), late CM Manohar Parrikar's son Utpal Parrikar and AAP's CM face Amit Paleker.
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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 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
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
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
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 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.