CANACONA
Expressing confidence that both BJP candidates would win the two ZP constituencies in Canacona taluka, Canacona MLA Isidore Fernandes was, however, critical of arrangements at the polling booths.
“I am 110% sure that both BJP candidates will win at the Khola and Poinguinim ZP constituencies. The low voter turnout in the early hours of polling was not a good sign, but I expect people to come out to exercise their franchisee before the voting ends,” Fernandes told reporters after casting his vote at a polling booth in Pedem-Loliem.
Fernandes was, however, quick to criticise arrangements at the polling booths.
“Though polling stations had sanitisers, thermal guns to check temperatures and places marked to ensure social distancing, I was surprised that sufficient pandals were not erected to provide shade to enable voters to maintain social distancing while standing in the hot sun,” said Fernandes.
Asked to respond to BJP State Vice President Ramesh Tawadkar’s open challenge to Fernandes to prove his influence by getting 80% of the electorate in Canacona to vote for the BJP candidates, Fernandes shot back: “It's not the first time that I and most of my supporters have voted for BJP. During the then Poinguinim assembly by-poll, the votes had almost doubled for the BJP party when I contested that by-poll.
“Such comments are unwarranted and unbecoming of a former minister. Both BJP candidates in Canacona are winning 110% and the votes they will secure are because of the efforts of all BJP karyakartas, which also includes me,” he added.
