Panaji (GOA): On Sunday, over 7.49 lakh voters will cast their vote to elect their new Panchayat body. Total 186 panchayat covering 1450 wards will be going for polls tomorrow.
Total 5297 candidates are in fray in 1450 wards, whose fate will be known on June 13.
“All the preparations are done. People can cast their vote between 8am to 5pm through ballot papers,” officer on special duty for election Dr Durgaprasad told media persons.
As many as 6500 polling personnel are deployed at various polling booths. There going to be two police personnel to man each booth apart from special patrolling in the sensitive polling booths.
The elections will be held across 1246 booths. Approximately 7,49,686 voters are eligible to vote which include 3,81,192 female voters and 3,68,494 male voters.
Initially1522 wards had went for polls, of which panchs in 55 wards got elected unopposed. The elections of another 15 wards from ten panchayats got postponed to July 1 after they were caught in litigation over reservation and delimitation process.
As such, the State Election Commission (SEC) decided to postpone the counting of ten panchayats to July 2. The ten panchayats include Curca-Bambolim, Merces, Anjuna-Caisua, Penha de Franca, Betki-Khandola, Advapal, Betalbatim, Nuvem and Sancoale.
As per the information available, over 70 polling booths are identified as sensitive, hypersensitive and critical areas across the State. In North Goa total 43 polling booths are identified as red zones that include 31 in Bardez taluka itself. In Tiswadi, there are ten booths while in Sattari taluka two booths are identified as critical areas.
In South Goa, 27 polling booths have been identified as sensitive. All the nine wards of Loliem village panchayat is declared as critical.
For this term, the post of Sarpanch and Deputy Sarpanch of as many as 125 village panchayats are reserved for women on rotation basis.
The Dry-Days have commenced in 186 panchayats. Government has also notified that no liquor will be transported from one place to another within the State during those days and all establishments like hotels, restaurants, bars, tea shops, etc within the vicinity of 100-200 mtrs of polling station in the concerned panchayats are asked to remain close from 6.00am to 9.00pm on the polling day.
Team TNV
