Battle of ballot today
BY HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, OCT 30 The D-Day has finally come for Francisco Sardinha (Cong) and Dr Wilfred Mesquita (BJP) as the around 5.60 lakh South Goa electorate prepares to cast its vote for the Mormugao Lok Sabha constituency bye-election on Wednesday. However, the main contestants and political parties are keeping their fingers crossed with regard to the voter turnout following lacklustre campaigns and little interest shown by the people. While Mesquita exuded confidence of wresting the seat from the Congress, the Congress candidate said the people of South Goa would once again cast their vote in favour of the party. Meanwhile, District Magistrate and Returning Officer Mihir Vardhan told newsmen that the authorities are fully geared to hold free and fair elections. He said that around 3167 election staff will be deployed at the 590 polling stations, while six companies of para-military forces and 1100 Goa Police personnel will provide security. Forty-six polling stations have been declared as sensitive. Around 137 polling stations across the district have 1200 plus voters, while the authorities have identified around 16 polling booths as critical polling stations. As a precautionary measure, Vardhan said instructions have been issued to the Superintendent of Police, South, to deploy additional central para-military personnel at the critical polling stations. Talking tough on missing voters who were not found at their place of residence by the Booth Level Officers (BLOs) Vardhan said that the missing voters will be videographed or photographed as a matter of caution. Those who try to impersonate will be taken to task, the Returning Officer warned. Meanwhile, election officials and police personnel assembled at Nehru Stadium Tuesday morning and later fanned out to the polling stations after collecting the EVMs and other election material. http://oheraldo.in/pagedetails.asp?nid=3612&cid=10 Sanny de Quepem <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com
