MARGAO
Can one make it to the grass-root panchayat bodies by polling just 42 votes or less than that or slightly more than the figure?
Indeed, it’s a touch-and-go situation, literally for many a candidate at as many as 13 wards spread across the six panchayat bodies of Orlim, Ambelim, Cavelossim, Camurlim, Macazana and Sarzora in Salcete.
Unlike many a candidate, who had to contend with hundreds of voters, to make it to the panchayat bodies, candidates from these 13 wards may have to pray and hope to pocket just a few, but decisive votes.
Candidates in the fray in these 13 wards must not have stopped poll calculations over their victory prospects, moments after polling for the panchayat elections ended at 5 pm on Wednesday.
Reason: Each of these 13 wards spread across the six Salcete panchayats has recorded less than 150 votes, sending the candidates in a tizzy.
Consider this. Ward 5 of the Orlim panchayat has recorded only 84 votes. For the three candidates in the fray, Karen Braz, Martina Fernandes and Nascimenta Fernandes, 42 votes is just the halfway mark to achieving the target. They, however, are aware that the target may even be less than the halfway mark given that a total of three candidates are in the fray.
The situation in Ward 3 of Orlim is no different. Around 128 out of the 186 voters had turned up at the polling booth to cast their vote on Wednesday. In a straight fight between Tamica Rosa and Ligorina Carvalho, the task before the two candidates is simple – garner just 65 votes and make it to the panchayat body to preside over the affairs for the next five years.
A similar situation has unfolded in Ward 6 of the same panchayat. Around 113 of the 183 have cast their vote in the Wednesday polling, setting the three candidates in the fray a target of 64 votes to win the election.
Again, Ward 7 of the Orlim panchayat has recorded around 150 polling, indicating that the two candidates in the fray for the general ward, have a target to poll 76 votes to make it to the panchayat.
In Ambelim panchayat, which has already seen the unopposed election of two candidates, the candidates in Ward 4 are locked in a straight fight and are facing a touch-and-go situation. For, Ward 4 has recorded just 142 vote polling and the two contestants in the fray have a simple target to poll 72 votes to make it to the panchayat body.
Two wards of the Cavelossim panchayat are facing a similar situation. In the election for Ward 3, which has witnessed a no-holds-barred campaign, the target before the three candidates -- Denis Dias, James Barretto and Dixon Vaz -- is simple – just poll around 60-plus votes and win the polls. For, around 145 out of 177 voters cast their ballot in the Wednesday polling.
In Ward 6 of the same panchayat, a similar situation is staring at the two women contestants in a straight battle for supremacy. With only 147 out of the 207 voters turning up at the booth to exercise their franchise in the election, around 74 votes will ensure them the victory.
D-day for seasoned grassroots politicians and their challengers
MARGAO
It’s a D-day for seasoned grassroots politicians from Salcete and their challengers on Friday as the stage is set for the counting of ballots cast in the panchayat election held on Wednesday.
The fate of as many as 863 candidates will be decided on Friday as the Returning Officers for the 33 panchayats Laxmikant Desai, Dhiren Benaulikar and Pravin Gawas will take up the counting of the ballots at 8 am at the two counting centres.
While 11 candidates, including three candidates for the Chandor panchayat and two for the Ambelim panchayat, have been declared elected unopposed, the fate of the 853 candidates will be known by Friday noon.
The fate of the sitting and former sarpanchas and sitting and former panchas, besides hundreds of new faces, including women, will be decided on Friday.
Results of some VPs expected in an hour
MARGAO:
The results of Chinchinim, Carmona, Ambelim, Assolna, Sarzora, besides Seraulim, Camurlim, Raia and Cana-Benaulim panchayat elections are expected to be declared within an hour after the counting of votes from Salcete is taken up at 8 am.
For the first time, the ballots sealed in the boxes will be taken up for counting at two centres, one at the Manohar Parrikar Indoor stadium at Navelim and two centres on the ground floor of the Matanhy Saldanha Administration complex in the Collectorate building.
The counting of ballots will be taken up in around five rounds. The ballots of the panchayats of Chinchinim, Carmona, Ambelim, Assolna, Sarzora, besides Seraulim, Camurlim and Benaulim will be taken up for counting in round one of counting at the two centres.
Counting for panchayats of Ambelim, Assolna, Sarzora, Rachol, Guirdolim, Paroda, Sao Jose de Areal, Velim, Curtorim, Chandor and Macazana will be taken up at the Manohar Parrikar Indoor stadium, Navelim.
The remaining panchayats -- Chinchinim, Carmona, Davorlim, Navelim, Dramapur, Rumdamol, Varca, Aquem-Baixo, Orlim and Telaulim, besides Seraulim, Raia, Camurlim, Benaulim, Betalbatim, Nagoa, Loutolim, Colva, Nuvem, Verna and Majorda -- will be taken up for counting at the Matanhy Saldanha Administrative complex.
