By IANS,
Panaji : Over 42 percent ballotting was reported in Goa by noon Saturday to elect a 40-member assembly.
North Goa district which reported 43.16 percent voting has 23 assembly segments, while South Goa district which clocked 41 percent voting, has 17 assembly segments.
The over all voting percentage is 42.08.
After casting his vote in the Margao constituency, Chief Minister Digambar Kamat said he was confident of a Congress-Nationalist Congress Party alliance win. “This is the sixth time I am contesting elections. The signs are good and our alliance will win,” Kamat said.
Leader of opposition Manohar Parrikar said the voter turnout in these elections could be as high as 80 percent.
“I am satisfied. The voting turnout appears good. I think there will be heavy voting in these elections. More turnout will benefit us. People are eager to vote out these thieves,” Parrikar said.
Votes will be counted March 6.
The electorate numbering 1,026,306 – men 511,111 and women 515,195 – will seal the fate of 215 candidates, including nine women candidates.
The main contest is between the ruling Congress-Nationalist Congress Party alliance and the Bharatiya Janata Party-Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party alliance. The Trinamool Congress, a new entrant in Goa’s political canvas, has fielded 20 candidates.
Other parties like the Samajwadi Party, the Samajwadi Janata Party, the Republican Party of India and the Janata Dal-Secular are also contesting, along with regional parties like the Goa Vikas Party and the United Goan Democratic party (UGDP).
Besides, civil society has come together under the banner of the Zagrut Goenkarancho Ekvott (ZGE) and fielded 10 candidates for the elections.
Ballotting is spread across 1,612 polling stations, and several units of para-military forces have been deployed for security.