the goan I network
VASCO
“All the counting agents should carry their identity cards signed by me and if anyone fails to get the identity card, he will be denied entry in the counting hall,” said Shankwalkar.
“Counting of votes of Mormugao and Dabolim constituencies will be taken up first, while Vasco and Cortalim will be taken up later,” he informed.
Shankwalkar added that the strongroom will be opened on March 11 at 7 am and the counting agents should be present at 7 am at the counting premises.
“The counting will take place on second floor of the college and it will start at 8 am and before the counting of the votes, postal ballots will be taken up for counting.”
“The counting agents will not be allowed to carry with them any electronic gadgets and cash and there will be a three-tier security to check the candidates and their agents and jammers will be installed to avoid any contact with the people outside the counting hall,” he added.
Shankwalkar said 10 tables will be placed to count the votes and the entire proceeding will be video filmed. “Those who want the copy of the CD should apply in a proper format and the CD will be delivered on the next day,” he said.
Shankwalkar said the counting will be tabulated by the officials through Genesis Software, which will be directly linked to Election Commission of India.
“At the time of the counting, only the control unit of EVM required for ascertaining the results will be taken to the counting hall and the ballot unit will be kept in the strong room,” said Shankwalkar.
Some port town candidates seek divine
intervention for successful verdict
VASCO: With their political fate to be decided by the weekend, some candidates in the port town have been seeking divine intervention for a successful verdict.
Some candidates along with their families and close friends have gone to Valankanni, while others have visited Shirdi and Ajmer, to seek divine blessings for their victory.
While many of these candidates were tight-lipped about their visit to the holy places, some have openly admitted that when the verdict is expected to be close, divine intervention plays an important role and hence they visited the holy places.
Vasco’s NCP candidate Jose Philip D’Souza said his visit to Valankanni along with his family was a vow made before the election.
“During the election, I could not visit Valankanni and so, I made it a point to go to Valankanni along with my wife to fulfil the vow soon after the election,” said D’Souza.
Asked about his pilgrimage to other holy places, D’Souza said it was the wish of his supporters to visit other holy places.
“I did visit other holy places along with my supporters, as they felt that I should also pay my respects to other holy sites,” added D’Souza.
When asked if his pilgrimages were aimed at seeking divine intervention for his victory in the election, D’Souza replied: “God’s blessings is always required in every situation.”
Vasco MGP candidate Manish Arolkar, Congress candidate Saifullha Khan and Dabolim NCP candidate Kritesh Gaonkar also confirmed that they had undertaken separate pilgrimages.
All three admitted that God’s intervention was vital for their victory in the assembly election.
