Goa Polls: Voter Turnout of 83%, Parrikar Says We Will Win
Watch this space for all you need to know about the Goa Assembly polls.
- Goa, one of the smallest Indian states, has 40 constituencies and 11 lakh voters
- Nearly 50,000 personnel of the CAPF has been deployed to man 1,642 polling stations
- An incident of malfunction in the Voter-Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machine was reported from Margao constituency in the state triggering a possibility of a re-election.
'Goa and Punjab Will Create History Today': Arvind Kejriwal
AAP supremo and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal appeared confident about his party’s prospects in Goa and Punjab, where polling is underway. He said that the states will create history today even as he urged people to vote for honest politics.
In Goa, 250 candidates are contesting from 40 assembly constituencies.
53% Voter Turnout Till 1 pm
Voter turn out in North Goa rose to 55% and 52% in South Goa. Till 1 pm, the total voter turnout in Goa reached 53%.
Malfunction in VVPAT Machine in Margao, Re-Election a Possibility
An incident of malfunction in the Voter-Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machine was reported from Margao constituency in the state triggering a possibility of a re-election.
Polling at the booth had began at the smooth pace but around 10 am the VVPAT machine developed a problem. After the machine error could not be fixed, officials asked the voters to go back, referring the issue to Chief Electoral officer in Panaji.
Though there was no clarity on what exactly went wrong with the machine, the election observer present at the booth said that the Election Commission would inquire into the matter.
Amitabh Bachchan Praises 'Pink' Polling Booths in Goa
34 Percent Turnout Till 11 am
The voting percentage in South Goa till 11 am is 32% and 35% in North Goa.
Women Cast Their Votes at the Pink Booth Including a 75-Year-Old Woman
15 Percent Turnout Till 9 am
North Goa has recorded a voting percentage of 16%, while South Goa recorded 14% voter turnout. Overall, the state has recorded a voting percentage of 15% till 9 am.
Also Read: FB Live: Who’ll Win Goa Elections? The Quint Asks News Editors
BJP Will Form Next Government, Says Union Minister Shripad Naik
Union AYUSH minister Shripad Naik expressed confidence that BJP would be forming the next government in Goa with a comfortable majority, bagging 21-26 seats in the 40-member State Legislative Assembly. He told reporters after casting his vote,
Talking about the party's announcement that it might send a leader from the Centre to be the next chief minister, if BJP is voted to power, Naik said the final decision should be taken after central leadership is taken into confidence.
Inside a Goan Floating Casino, Entertainment Beats Politics
Floating casinos have taken centre-stage in Goa Assembly elections 2017.
The Congress legalised them in 1994, and subsequent BJP governments have also renewed the licenses of 14-odd casinos in the state. Aam Aadmi Party, on the other hand, has vowed to shut casinos if elected to power, making the hashtag #CloseTheCasinos a major part of their campaign.
But can political parties dim the lights of casinos in Goa? The Quint’s ground report from a floating casino in Mandovi river, finds out.
EC Encourages First-Time Voter with Pink Polling Stations
The Election Commission has come up with this innovative idea of distributing teddy bears to first-time women voters at the polling booths in Panaji to boost their participation in the democratic exercise.
CM Parsekar Casts Vote in Arambol
After Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar cast his vote early Saturday morning from Arambol.
BJP Will Get Two-Third Majority: Manohar Parrikar
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar addressed the media after he cast his vote in Panaji. He said:
Also Read: FB Live: RSS Rebel Subhash Velingkar on Battling BJP in Goa Polls
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar Casts Vote in Panaji
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar arrived early to vote. He waited in the queue at a polling booth in Panaji before he cast his ballot half an hour after voting in Goa began.
Parrikar has played a key role in this election. His sheer presence completely overshadowed Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar in the campaign. His significance to these elections wasn't lost on his rivals, too.
Voting for 40-Member Goa Assembly: All You Need to Know
Locked in a four-way fight between the Congress, the Bharatiya Janata Party, Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party and debutante Aam Aadmi Party, this election is one to watch out for.
Also Read: Church Holds the Key in Goa: Will Catholics Ditch BJP This Time?
Here’s all you need to know about today’s polls.
Goa Assembly Polls: Know Your Candidates
Survival, Coronation & Superstition: Why Modi Wants to Win in Goa
Prime Minister Narendra Modi shares a deep bond with Goa. No wonder top leaders of the party are leaving no stone unturned to ensure a win in the state.
Goa, with just a million voters, is one of the smallest states in India. Yet, all of the BJP’s star campaigners, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, have descended in Goa. Senior party leaders, including president Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Venkaiah Naidu, Nitin Gadkari, Smriti Irani, Devendra Fadnavis and BS Yeddyurappa, are holding 36 rallies!
Read the full story on The Quint
Inside a Goan Floating Casino: Here, Entertainment Beats Politics
'Pink' Polling Stations and Teddy Bears for Women Voters
In an effort to encourage women voters, the office of the chief electoral officer of Goa has introduced 40 ‘pink’ polling stations in every constituency, that will cater especially to women.
One booth in the state capital will also be fully manned by disabled persons.
How Goa Voted in 2012
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