Goa Records 75% Voting in Lok Sabha Polls; BJP Anticipates Strong Support

Goa witnessed a significant voter turnout in the third phase of the Lok Sabha elections, with officials reporting a 75.13 per cent participation rate across the state's two constituencies. This peaceful electoral exercise concluded on Tuesday, marking a notable moment in the coastal state's democratic process. The Election Commission of India (ECI) provided these figures through its mobile application, highlighting the active engagement of the electorate in North and South Goa.

In a detailed breakdown, North Goa saw a higher turnout of 76.54 per cent, while South Goa recorded a 73.75 per cent voter participation. The voting process spanned across 1,725 polling stations and lasted from 7 am to 6 pm. Key political figures, including Pallavi Dempo (BJP, South Goa), Viariato Fernandes (Congress, South Goa), and Shripad Naik (BJP, North Goa), were among those who exercised their franchise at their respective polling booths.

The Poriem assembly constituency in North Goa reported the highest voter turnout at 87.11 per cent, closely followed by Sankhalim at 86.50 per cent. Notably, Sankhalim is represented by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, and BJP MLA Dr Deviya Rane secured a victory from Poriem in the 2022 elections. The Valpoi assembly segment also showed robust participation with an 82.97 per cent turnout.

Conversely, the Vasco-da-Gama constituency in South Goa observed the lowest turnout at 67.10 per cent. Despite a slow start in the morning, voter participation increased as the day progressed. Ramesh Tawadkar, the Speaker of the Goa Legislative Assembly, suggested that the high voter turnout could signal an advantage for the BJP. Subhash Phal Desai, State Social Welfare Minister, highlighted that one booth in his Sanguem assembly constituency achieved 100 per cent voting by 3 pm.

Contrasting opinions emerged from political leaders regarding the implications of the voter turnout. While BJP representatives interpreted it as a positive sign for their party, Girish Chodankar, a leader from the Goa Congress, argued that the high participation indicated public dissent against the BJP establishment.

More than 11 lakh voters were eligible to cast their votes in this crucial election phase for the two Lok Sabha seats in Goa. The electoral battle saw Shripad Naik of the BJP defending his seat against Congress's Ramakant Khalap in North Goa. In South Goa, Pallavi Dempo of the BJP contested against Viriato Fernandes from Congress. A total of 16 candidates, eight for each constituency, vied for these positions. The counting of votes is scheduled for June 4.