It was an election with a difference. Perhaps for the first time in Goas electoral history beginning 1962 when Goans voted post liberation for the Village Panchayats in Goa the turnout was dismal. Just 36.2 % Blame it on several things a) disillusionment of the voters over the political sommersaults of the elected representatives or b) Goa Defacement of Property Act which literally ensured that there were no banners posters and nothing to reveal to the eye of an election seen in public places; d) then there was the delayed notification of the Government of Goa announcing only as late as 25th October, 2007 vide Gazette notification of a public holiday to the whole state; but later a confusion of sorts the paid public holiday was sought to be modified only to cover establishments in South Goa and to keep workers in industrial establishments of the Government out of the purview of the paid holiday which was believed to have been turned down by the Chief Minister who holds the industry portfolio but only as late on the afternoon of eve of polling day. e) considering that both candidates were Cristao Bamonns they are not known to spend funds and many say they would opt to stash away electoral funds for their winter forays.
Today majority of the shops and commercial establishments remained open , public undertook their daily chores without any hitch, private bus transport was regular. There were no semblance of a polling day . There were few tables in the twenty one assembly constituencies, there were just one or none manning the tables mostly youth below 18 to twenty years and some women. Moreover with children and students on Dipawali (8th & 9th November)vacations the enthusiasm was low. Even though today was the 23rd death aniversary of late Smt Indira Gandhi there was not much enthusiasm among the voters to re-dedicate the day for her unfinished tasks. When this writer toured nearly the entire constituency since morning there were no Qs seen at the polling booths . One veteran voter who openly declared his vote for Sardinha Bab not out of any love for him but for the love of the symbol HAND said that the elections to the Village Panchayat had registered a much better turn out. In places like Mollem there were no crowds of women .. as is normally the case in the afternoons when most women prefer to work after their daily chores. In Priol Sanguem and Canacona there was a little improvement and to some extent in Quepem so also in the Benaulim Navelim Assembly Constituency but the voters preferred to keep their choice of candidates in close confidants putting the pollsters in a quizzical situation to predict the outcome. According to the officials there were enrolled this time round 5,60,284 voters with males outnumbering the females this time, and as obvious Ponda and Poinguinim accounted for the largest 37 thousand odd voters and 16, 500 odd voters respectively. There were Electronic Voting Machines pressed in use at all the 590 polling booths. Electoral Photo Identity cards were a must to all those possessing the same . As ususal there were several complaints of cases where the voter possessed the EPI card but found his name missing on the electoral roll in other cases the names were missing from the rolls . This time round the candidates of the INC and the BJP had issued computerized voters card and this helped the voters to identify the polling booths without having to seek assistance at the voting tables kept well beyond the polling booth. Many of the booth committee members boycotted the polling booths as they were not provided the necessary funds for the elections.. It may be noted that in Goa the Assembly election could easily cost a candidate one to two crores given that he has to provide for snacks , food , fuel hire of vehicles transportation posters banners sound system pandal chairs refreshments (hard and soft drinks ) from 13th to 31st October, 2007 . But on the day of voting money is crucial pulling the voters to the ballot is a hazardous task when no emotive issues are involved and money alone i s the test for winnability in such situations. Even though SEZ was being hyped as the emotive issues for Goans to think twice while casting their vote many did not take kindly to this appeal only to those in South Goa. Why not involve the people in North as well was the general feeling of the voters and moreover the subject was left to the State Governments to dabble in as they are required to provide the land for the same. Hence many of the booth committee members played a poor role on the polling day. When this writer spoke to the Chief Electoral Officer Mr Ramesh Negi - 9822708273 late evening he confirmed that the polling figures were around 35 to 36% as collating of the ballot data was still under way After the close of polling this writer witnessed signs of jubilation at the BJP camp office in Margao with each of the booth Managers claiming leads in their respective constituency. Viz Sanguem Mormugao Canacona Cortalim and Poinguinim -- a similar situation was witnessed in the INC camp with claims of leads in Benaulim Loutolim etc ---According to one poltical activist who did not take kindly to the BJP fielding a non party worker he said that these guesstimates would prove wrong if any thing they could provide a not more that 5000 margin to the winning candidate. Hence until day of counting the suspense will continue but it appears that the CM Mr Digamber Kamat has done a careful behind the back efforts with his Man Friday to ensure that some of his friends in the BJP ----remember he was the number two in the BJP led coalition and was privy to many of the BJP inner dealings ----come to his rescue ofcourse for a quid pro quo which some of the Opposition MLAs could jump for the bait as otherwise they have to cool their heels until the term end June 2012. >From the Mollem end . GODFREY J. I. GONSALVES, BORDA, MARGAO, 403 602, GOA. (INDIA) +91 98221 58584 (24 HRS) [EMAIL PROTECTED] Do you get hundreds of mails everyday? Delete none. Go to http://in.rd.yahoo.com/tagline_mail_9/*https://edit.india.yahoo.com/config/eval_register