Goa Election 2022 Updates: 78.94 per cent tentative voter turnout recorded

On Monday, as voting booths open at 7am, Goa will kickstart the process of electing a new government for the next five years with no clear-cut indication if any party will reach the magical mark of 21 in the 40-member House. With the political waters muddled by high octane campaigning, the hazy and uncertain mosaic has made these elections unprecedented not only for the 11.64 lakh electorate, but also the 301 candidates from 12 political parties and Independents. Fighting anti-incumbency,BJP is going to the polls alone—contesting all 40 seats for the first time—with the hope of securing a third consecutive term. BJP’s hope hinges on the split in votes among the fragmented opposition that will help in consolidating the gains for the cadre-based party.

Chandrakant Shetye, who is standing as an independent in Bicholim constituency, speaking about what his team and he saw for themselves during his door-to-door campaign, said that the biggest issue plaguing the people is finance which needs to be solved by creating employment opportunities.“Commissioning a big industrial estate can provide jobs to at least 3,000 youths. My aim is to make Bicholim constituency an ideal one by promoting development and providing employment,” Shetye said, adding that the reason he had stepped into politics was to solve the problems faced by the people of the constituency and provide them with basic amenities.

Covid has put paid to several of the state’s elderly’s right to vote, with either they or their old age homes taking the decision to exercise caution and avoid exposure to the virus.“The booth-level officer brought forms to the home for our bedridden and wheelchair bound inmates, but we told him that we didn’t want to risk anyone bringing Covid inside the home just for a few persons,” the sister incharge of an old age home in Salcete said.This assembly election, the Election Commision of India for the first time extended the convenience of the postal ballot facility to the eighty-plus and persons with benchmark disabilities.

The campaigning periodwas an extremely busy time forDaniel Lobo. There were two constituencies to keep an eye on, meetwith and activate his friend network. With father, Michael, andmother, Delilah, Congress candidates for Calangute and Siolimconstituencies, the Lobo familyhad their hands full. Daniel’s helping hand was possibly a relief for the husband-wifeduo. “