MARGAO
Did the voter turnout in the three minority-dominated Assembly segments of Benaulim, Velim and Nuvem fall short of expectations when there was as surge of voters in the hinterland talukas, considered the bastion of the BJP?
This question did the rounds in political circles at 5 pm on polling day just an hour before polling ended at 6 pm when statistics showed that the seven out of the eight Assembly segments in Salcete did not cross the 70 per cent mark when their counterparts in the hinterland segments of Ponda, Madkai, Shiroda, Sanvordem, Curchorem, Quepem, Sanguem and Canacona had surpassed the 70 per cent figure.
This question assumed significance when the Congress and INDI Alliance have been expecting an one-sided voting in the three segments of Benaulim, Velim and Nuvem in order to the achieve the 70,000 vote lead from Salcete.
In fact, political observers pointed out that polling additional 3-5 per cent in these three segments would have kept the Congress and INDI Alliance candidate in good stead when the hinterland segments have recorded huge voter turnout.
Questions were raised whether the higher turnout of voters could not be achieved in Benaulim and Velim for want of organization or simply lack of coordination between the Alliance partners.
Benaulim Aam Admi party (AAP) MLA Venzy Viegas, however, begged to differ. In fact, he came out with startling statistics blaming the less turn out to the absence of voters, who are either abroad, or are out of the state for various reasons. In fact, he pointed out that as many 18 per cent of the voters were not found in the constituency on polling day since they are staying abroad or working on board the ship.
Citing an instance of a polling booth at Fatrade-Varca, Venzy said the booth in question, which was the cynosure of all eyes, after polling came to a halt due to a technical glitch in the VVPAT, had a total around 800 voters, out of which 200 youngsters are presently abroad. “If we take this factor into account, we can conclude that it is not the fault of anyone for not getting the voters out since they are abroad”, he added.
Going by the polling, Venzy has exuded confidence that Benaulim would give 15000-plus lead for Captain Viriato Fernandes. “I think the voters from Nuvem and Velim too will give similar vote lead for the INDI Alliance candidate, which would in the final analysis help to win the seat”, he added.
Velim AAP MLA Cruz Silva said AAP had put in huge efforts to spread awareness amongst the voters to come out and vote on May 7. “While we took the initiative in spreading voters awareness, the booth management and transportation of voters was handled by the Congress. We were not taken into confidence as far as booth handling is concerned. I cannot say why the voter turnout is not as per the expectations”, he said.
Congress district Congress president Savio D’Silva, however, said the Congress had put in place arrangements for the transportation of voters at the booth level. “We had put the logistics in place. I cannot understand what the AAP MLA is saying when he said that they were not taken into confidence”, Savio added.
Former Majorda Sarpanch Creson Antao said that it may not be correct to say that Nuvem Assembly segment had less polling compared to other segments. “The total votes polled in Nuvem has crossed 20,000. One has to understand that there a significant number of voters are working abroad. In my own ward, around hundred voters are presently abroad. Such a situation is prevailing in other areas of Nuvem”, he said, adding that Captain Viriato should get minimum 16,000 vote lead.
