PERNEM
Voters responded enthusiastically in all four Zilla Panchayat constituencies in Pernem taluka which went to polls on Saturday to decide the fate of 22 candidates.
Voter turnout at the four ZP constituencies in Pernem taluka was Arambol (80.43%), Dhargal (76.4%), Torxem (76.02%) and Morjim (72.59%),
Many voters expected voting to start at 7 am, along the lines of the assembly elections, and went to polling booths at 7 am, only to be told that elections would take place from 8 am to 5 pm.
Among them included former chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar who also reached his polling booth in Arambol well before polling could start.
While many decided to wait at the polling booth, some others like Parsekar went back home and returned later after polling began.
Long queues were seen at most polling booths as voters turned up in large numbers.
Some bank employees complained that they could not get to vote as there was no holiday for bank employees.
Incidentally, polling agents of some candidates were not present at some important polling stations.
Both Mandrem MLA Jit Arolkar and Pernem MLA Pravin Arlekar were confident of their candidates winning the polls, especially with the BJP and MGP in alliance, even though the Goa Forward Party candidates and some independent candidates are expected to pick up a sizeable number of votes.
