VOTING FOR CCP POLLS GOES PEACEFULLY

PANJIM: The voting for the Corporation of the City of Panjim went off peacefully in the 30 wards of the corporation. There was not untoward incident reported from any quarter and the law and order situation was well under control during the entire polling exercise. However, ample police presence was seen at all the polling stations to take care of any eventuality.

In ward 3, voters had to wait for half an hour as the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM), refused to work due to some technical problem, and by the time the authorities brought another one, some of the voters had gone back home, without exercising their right to franchise.

One of the features of this CCP election was that the older citizenry were eager to exercise their right to vote and many were seen in queues since early morning.

A huge crowd was seen at the polling booth at ward 30, from where social activist, Aires Rodrigues contested the polls. There was also a large police posse present here. PSI, Sagun Sawant, who was stationed at Government Primary school at Massano de Amorim, had to ask the newspaper agent on the other side of the polling station to pull down shutters as it was getting crowded.

The Mayor of Panjim, Ms Carolina Po, complained that the EVM developed some complications after a voter gave his thumb impression and got his photo taken.

An ASI, posted near the Dhempe College in Miramar complained that neither water nor food was supplied by the authorities and they had a tough time finding food as since Saturday night, restaurants and hotels in the vicinity of polling stations were ordered to remain closed.

Seven policemen posted at the Ribandar bus stand at Fondvem tried to satisfy their hunger by eating packed Kurkure, instead of a proper meal. The chiefs of both the major contesting panels Manohar Parrikar and Atanasio Monserrate were seen visiting the wards with a smile on their faces and meeting contestants to get a pulse on the election. Avinash Digambar Bhonsle was seen continuously on his mobile phone and shaking the hand of every voter he met.

At St Inez ward, from where the deputy mayor, Yatin Parekh contested, his supporters burst fire crackers and took out a victory procession, however, they were stopped and the procession disbanded near the Education department.