Large police presence ensures peace in Ponda
PONDA: With the exception of four incidents of snags in the VVPAT machines and delayed start to voting at some places, polling in Ponda taluka took place peacefully on Saturday.
A heavy police force was deployed in all constituencies of Priol, Ponda, Shiroda and Ponda in Ponda constituency, which helped the election process to be conducted smoothly and peacefully.
A large number of voters cast their votes in the morning itself, with separate queues for men and women, as well as preference to senior citizens.
Officials informed that voting process was delayed in polling booths at Tivare-Marcela, Adcolna-Marcela (in Priol constituency) and at two places at Panchwadi in Shiroda constituency, after the VVPAT machines developed a snag. They were later replaced by election officials.
Sources informed that it took nearly 40 minutes in Tivre to resolve the issue.
Paresh Fal Desai, returning officer for Shiroda and Marcaim constituencies, informed that there was no law and order problem in the area and voting was peaceful.
“There was an issue of VVPAT machines at only two places in Panchawadi, but the issue was resolved quickly,” he said.
Sudhir Kerkar, returning officer for Priol constituency, added there were only two issues of VVPAT snags in Tivarem and Adcolna in Marcela. “Otherwise, the election process was peaceful,” he said.
