VASCO
Rising Covid cases in the port town did not stop 44,282 voters on Friday from exercising their franchise at the Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) elections, recording a turnout of 65.04 per cent.
The elections, which were conducted amid strict protocols and SOPs in view of a surge in Covid cases, went off peacefully with no law and order problems being reported on election day.
The highest voter turnout was reported in Ward 2 (80.73%), while the lowest turnout was in Ward 18 (42.64%).
It was a slow start to the elections and as the day progressed, more voters turned up to cast their ballots.
Many candidates and their supporters worked to get people to vote, within some even engaging vehicles to transport senior citizens to the polling stations.
All polling stations had circles marked to ensure that voters strictly adhered to social distancing and other protocols. All voters had to go through thermal checks and were directed to use sanitisers before entering the polling stations.
As many as 57 Covid patients also arrived in PPE at the polling stations to cast their votes.
Several police teams were deployed for the MMC polls to ensure peaceful elections.
While all polling booths had at least one police team, some wards which had been declared as sensitive had larger police presence.
The police teams also assisted the elections team to get voters to maintain social distancing at the polling stations.
Police officials were visiting the polling stations to monitor the election process.
A team led by SP (Crime) Shobhit Saxena, DySp Raju Raut Desai and PIs Nilesh Rane, Paresh Naik were seen visiting many polling stations, especially the sensitive booths, to monitor all arrangements.
