PERNEM
There was a huge turnout at the elections to 10 wards of the Pernem Municipal Council (PMC) with 91.02% of the eligible voters exercising their franchise on Monday.
While the high voter turnout has left candidates confident of their success, many in Pernem town have been speculating over the outcome of the elections, when counting takes place on Monday.
Such was the response among voters that most wards recorded over 90% turnout, with Ward 7 with the highest turnout (95%), while the turnout in other wards was Ward 1 (92.01%), Ward 2 (87.02), Ward 3 (89.96%), Ward 4 (93.10%), Ward 5 (88.94%), Ward 6 (92%), Ward 8 (92.4%), Ward 9 (88.06%) and Ward 10 (90.95%).
There were total a 4,233 voters (2,148 men and 2,085 women) and the polling process took place peacefully.
"We had fielded 10 reputable candidates with a clean public image and willing to serve people. The people have voted for betterment of Pernem municipality and I'm sure that the BJP-backed candidates will win the elections," said Deputy Chief Minister and Pernem MLA Babu Ajgaonkar.
Meanwhile, by-election in Ward 5 of Morjim panchayat was also conducted at the Morjim Primary School on Saturday.
The by-election took place following the resignation of former sarpanch and panch Shanti Poke and Supriya Poke and Dimple Yeshi are contesting the elections.
Poke is backed by Mandrem MLA Dayanand Sopte, while Yeshi is being supported by Morjim ZP member Satish Shetgaonkar.
