PERNEM
As many as 491 election staff have been deputed in 92 polling booths and 154 police personal posted to maintain law and order at all polling stations in Pernem taluka. Special arrangements have been made to facilitate voters at the polling booths.
Entrances at many polling booths have been covered in view of heavy monsoon showers expected in the taluka over the next few days, while mobile toilets have also been placed around the polling booths.
Bal Rath buses were also stationed to transport the election staff to and from polling booths.
Candidates in the fray are aware that heavy rains on Sunday could lead to a lower turnout as voters could be deterred from travelling to their polling booths to exercise their franchise.
And with a fewer number of voters in panchayat wards, as opposed to assembly elections, a lower turnout could easily change the fortunes of candidates in the polls.
With five candidates already elected unopposed, 132 wards in 17 panchayats will go to polls and 477 candidates are in the fray. There are 159 women candidates, of which, 135 women are contesting from 135 reserved words and 24 are in
general wards.
