Polling percentage in Goa likely to exceed 68 pc

Panaji, June 2 (UNI) An estimated 57 per cent of the total 10.10 lakh voters in Goa today cast their ballots till 1700 hrs and election authorities feel the figures could exceed 68 per cent as large queues of voters still remain.

The polling would continue till clearance of the long queues of voters who had gathered till 1700 hrs, Goa Chief Electoral Officer Ramesh Negi said. It may take at least one to two hours, he added.

He expected the voting percentage to cross the 68 per cent mark registered in the year 2002. Voters turned out in large numbers to exercise their right to franchise after a let up in the rains since afternoon.

No untoward incident has been reported so far with deployment of 23 companies of the Central paramilitary forces and seven companies of reserve police battalion on poll duty.

UNI