Four constituencies record polling between 79 pc and 88 pc; minor skirmishes reported
103-year-old Yashodha Gawas casts her vote at Polling Booth 22 in Navelim-Sankhali while (right) Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and his wife, Sulakshana Sawant, voted at the Kothambi-Pali polling station, while their daughter Parthivi Sawant voted for the f
BICHOLIM
Voters across Bicholim turned out in large numbers at the Zilla Panchayat elections on Saturday, with the taluka recording a turnout of 83.36 per cent by the end of the day, sealing the fate of 15 candidates to the four ZP seats.
A few heated discussions among rival supporters were reported in Sal and Mulgao villages, but they did not escalate into an untoward situation which needed intervention from law-enforcement agencies.
The voter turnout to the four ZP constituencies – Latambarcem (88.29 per cent), Pali (86.58 per cent), Mayem (79.69 per cent) and Karapur (79.4 per cent).
Of a total of 51,761 eligible voters, 25,633 males and 26,126 females in Bicholim taluka exercised their franchise at the ZP polls.
Election Officer Shrikant Pednekar, Assistant Officer Omkar Mandre Kar, Bicholim Police Inspector Vijay Rane and their teams ensure smooth conduct of the polling process in the taluka.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and his wife, Sulakshana Sawant, voted at the Kothambi-Pali polling station, while their daughter Parthivi Sawant voted for the first time.
Mayem MLA Premendra Shet, and Bicholim MLA Dr Chandrakant Shetye also voted in their respective polling stations.
At Navelim-Sanquelim, 103-year-old Yashodha Gawas cast her vote at Polling Booth 22.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said the BJP will make a big impact in the ZP elections across the State, adding that Zilla Panchayats will be granted additional powers from this year to empower the ZP members.
“The government will push for rural development mechanisms, community farming, women empowerment and other various schemes as part of the Zilla Panchayats.
Bicholim MLA Chandrakant Shetye and Mayem MLA Premendra Shet said the people have full faith in the government and were confident the BJP would emerge victorious at the ZP polls.
