Counting begins in Goa amid tight security

Panaji, June 5 (UNI) Counting of votes for the 40-member assembly seat in Goa began here this morning amid tight security.

As many as 68.79 per cent of the 1.1 million-odd voters exercised their franchise in the June 2 polls, in which Chief Minister Pratapsinh Rane, his cabinet colleagues, Deputy Chief Minister Dr Wilfred De Souza and the opposition leader Manohar Parrikar cast their ballots.

The BJP contested the highest number of 33 seats followed by the Congress 32, the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) 26, Save Goa Front (SGF) 17, JD (S) and UGDP 11 each, Shiv Sena 7, Nationalist Congress Party 6, Communist Party of India (CPI) 3, CPI (Marxist) 1, RPI(A) 4, GSP 1 and Independents 50.

There are 19 Assembly constituencies in the North Goa district and 21 Assembly Constituencies in the South Goa district.

The election authorities warned the media against coverage of the actual counting inside the counting hall.

''The media taking audio visual coverage of the counting process with camera carried in hand or on shoulders are advised that under no circumstances, the actual votes recorded on each EVM is photographed or covered by audio visual coverage, even by accident,'' it said.

The Election Commission has also prohibited use of mobile phones inside the counting halls, except by authorised personnel.

UNI