15 p’yat wards vote, results keenly awaited

the goan I networkrMARGAOrWomen outnumbered men in Salcete as they turned up in large numbers to cast their votes in the four wards of Betalbatim, Nuvem and Chandor Panchayats that went to the polls on Saturday. rCounting of votes will be taken up on the ground floor of South Goa District Collectorate at 8 am on Sunday. rAlmost in all the four panchayats that went to the polls, women outnumbered men as they stood in queues to cast their votes at their respective polling booths. rOf the four wards, Ward No 10 (Kirbhat) of Nuvem panchayat recorded an unprecedented polling percentage of 80.97 per cent, comprising 239 women and 195 men. r In the two reserved wards of Betalbatim panchayat, ward no 5 recorded a poll percentage of 70.03 per cent, with 147 women and 110 men turning up to cast their votes. r For ward no 7, the poll percentage was put at 68.28 per cent. Returning officer Vishal Kundaikar said around 191 women and 106 men turned out to cast their votes. rAs far as ward No 5 of Chandor Panchayat is concerned, around 69.01 per cent of voters turned up to cast their votes. Of the 196 voters, who cast their vote, women outnumbered men again, with around 116 women and 80 men casting their votes. rPolls for the two reserved wards of Betalbatim and the lone general ward of Kirbhat-Nuvem were held following the controversy over the reservation and de-reservation of the wards. Leticia Pereira has already been declared elected unopposed from Ward No 3 in Betalbatim. rElection for Ward No 5 rof Chandor was countermanded following the death of a candidate.