The General Elections passed of peacefully The now
almost All India compalint of names missing on the
voters list even though some had their Electoral Photo
Identity Cards were there. The Electronic Voting
Machines did not create any problems. There was no
instances of booth capturing or violence, as confirmed
by the Asst Chief Electoral Officer Mr P K Patidar to
this writer late evening.
Voting began on an otherwise reasonably warm summer
day at 0700 hrs IST and went on until 1700 hrs IST but
at some places it continued beyond this time. One of
the reasons attributed is that though it was declared
a "paid Holiday" for workers in the organised sector
and for the first time "shift workers" too were given
a "paid holiday" after a circular of the Chief
Election Commissioner New Delhi was declared invalid
following a Bombay High Court at Goa judgement in
March 2004. However the workers attending to cashew
plantations could caste their votes only post lunch
session and late
As per reports from the CEO office Panaji the initial
pattern of voting suggested that there would be a low
turn out however towards the end the polling
registered in North Goa Parliamentary ( Panaji )
Constituency was 59.29 % while the South Goa
Parliamentary (Mormugao ) Constituency was %
In the North Goa Parliamentary Constituency in the
Dhargalim Manohar T Ajgaonkar a Scheduled Caste
Constituency Panaji Mr Manohar G Parrikar (CM) Valpoi
Constituency (Mr Narhari T Haldankar Dy Speakers all
belonging to the BJP registered less than 10,000
votes while Aldona Constituency of Mr Dayanand
Narvekar INC (Indian National Congress) registered
the highest wotes 17380 .
The trends in the other were of the order of above
15000 + 14000 + 13000+ 12000+ 11000+ 10000+
Mapusa * Tivim * St Andre Saligao Poriem Maem
Siolim * Taleigao*Bicholim
Calangute Pale*
St Cruz
Cumbarjua*
The * denotes BJP constituencies in the Legislative
Assembly
The battle is between sitting BJP MP Mr Shripad Naik
and Nationalist Congress Party Dr Wilfred De Souza MLA
fully backed by the Indian National Congress. If Dr
Wilfred De Souza is elected the Saligao seat will have
to be vacated and by elections held if the Goa
Legislative Assembly is not dissolved by May 2004
after the final results of the General Elections are
anounce on 14. May 2004 and the Government is formed
at the Centre
In the South Goa Mormugao Parliamentary Constituency
the highest votes polled was in Navelim Constituency
of Luizinho Faleiro ex CM and MLA 18455 followed by
Ponda Constituency of Mr Ravi S Naik ex CM and MLA
17383 and Quepem Mr C Kawlekar 16799 all of INC the
lowest votes in 9065 in Poinguinim of Independent
Candidate (Mr Isidore Fernandes)
The trends in the other were of the order of above
15000 + 14000 + 13000+ 12000+ 11000+
Vasco Priol Margao* Marcaim#Sanguem*
da Gama * Shiroda Cuncolim LoutolimCanacon*
Curchorem* Mormugao Savordem* Velim$
Fatorda* Benaulim@
Curtorim
* belongs to BJP
# belongs to MGP
@ backing the BJP
$ Independent backing the BJP
The entire elections were lack lustre and there was
not much visible activities. Most tables and they
were much lesser than the Assembly elections had few
mostly manning them.
Most of the MLAs apparently decided to allow things to
go by word of mouth or whisper campaign.
The election Observers were seen moving and also the
police force in large numbers but they were not put
into action anywhere.
Until 13th May 2004 we need to keep our fingers
crossed but one clear indication is apparent that the
ruling dispensation will need to make contigency plans
in the next fortnight.
The "feel good" factor was only for those ruling and
not the general electorate it appears.
The comments that were heard as this writer toured the
entire constituency are worth mentioning
The Muslims it is believed assured the BJP of votes
but voted en masse for the INC
The Bahujan Samaj in the North are fifty fifty for
Shripad Naik and against --- for because he is more
assessible than Dr Wilfred De Souza and against
because Mr Naik was more of a rolling stone gathers no
moss during his past term as Minister of Agriculture
Civil Aviation Finance and Shipping.
Those for Dr Wilfred De Souza supported him because he
would match the status required of Goa in the
Legislative Assembly while others felt the cunning fox
needs to be kept away if Mr Parrikar and the BJP has
his way, the other INC members could be dealt with by
filing cases against them and rendering them immobile
Luizinho Faleiro Mauvin Godinho Mr Sommnath Zuarkar
and Mr D Narvekar.
In South Goa Mr Alemao has been preferred because the
sitting MP Mr Ramakant Angle has never visited the
Constituency after elections and is inaccessible. Had
Mr Prakash Velip the ex Education Minister and a Velip
been given the ticket they would have voted him rather
than Mr Churchill but the last minute decision of the
BJP to give Mr Angle the ticket has dug the nail in
the coffin they say. They also feel if like Dr Willie
Mr Alemao goes to the Centre Goa will be rid of the
two who have a good influence on the INC and could
keep Mr Parrikar in peace to concentrate on
development activities in Goa.
Ironically this time the message of the Church is
understood by voters as being against those that act
against the Catholic interest.
Another complaint has been that ruling MLAs are
incapable of deciding anything as they need the NOD
from the almight CM this has angered many a voter who
has earlier voted the BJP.
The polling officials deserve a pat on their backs
with special cudos to IT savy Mr Bhalla the CEO.
For more details and analysis visit
www.electionsgoa.nic.in
from the electoral field
Godfrey J I Gonsalves
Borda Margao Goa
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
________________________________________________________________________
Yahoo! India Matrimony: Find your partner online.
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