CANACONA
The 290 polling staff took possession of ballot boxes and other election materials which were handed over to them at the specially erected pandal outside the Deputy Collector’s office complex at Chaudi.
The election staff along with the ballot boxes and election materials were then transported in special vehicles to the 49 polling booths in the seven village panchayats of Canacona by Saturday afternoon.
Heavy rains on Saturday made it difficult for the election staff to reach many remote polling stations in the taluka. Most polling stations have their entrances temporarily covered with tarpaulin to provide temporary respite from the monsoon rains on the polling day.
With four candidates already elected unopposed, elections will be conducted in 53 wards at the 49 polling stations. Canacona Police has made elaborate arrangements with additional forces drawn from IRB to maintain law and order at the polling stations from Saturday itself. Police forces were also deployed at various locations considered strategic in some of the villages, soon after campaigning ended on
Friday evening.
With no campaigning on Saturday, sources revealed that candidates kept building pressure on the electorate through phone calls to request them to vote in their favour on Sunday. Many candidates fear if the heavy rains continue to hit the taluka on Sunday, it may keep many voters, especially the old, frail and sick voters from coming out of their houses and proceeding to the polling booths.
