COUNTING OF VALPOI ELECTION POLLS BEGINS ON 21 OCTOBER

PANJIM: The election authorities will on Thursday undertake counting of votes cast during the by-election to 19-Valpoi assembly constituency in the state. The counting will be held at the Goa College of Home Science from 8 a.m. onwards.

The votes will be counted in hall number 1 of the college and the process is expected to be completed before noon. The fate of both the contestants, Mr Vishwajit Rane of Congress and Mr Santosh Haldankar of the Bharatiya Janata Party, would be known within an hour after the counting begins.

The election authorities have made elaborate arrangements for counting of votes at the lone counting centre in the city. The electronic voting machines used to record votes of the candidates have been kept in the strong room under security cover provided by the central security forces.

Meanwhile, the election authorities have directed all liquor vending/selling shops to remain closed on Thursday in view of counting of votes. However, the bar and restaurants would be allowed to keep their restaurants open for food service only. The election authorities have directed bar owners to display boards in the restaurant premises stating that no liquor would be served in view of the government orders.(NT)