Polling in Goa was generally peaceful this time round except for a few incidents of outrage among the contesting groups. The polling commenced at 0700 hrs IST . The climate was generally cool and moderate throughout the date. The increase in booths and their proximity to the voters residence ensured a well spread out network. This year round there were many changes effected by the election commission The first is the timing of the poll 0700 hrs instead of 0800 hrs .The Booth level officers pre election had gone house to house to distribute the slips containing the voters details leaving no scope for candidates to issue the same. At the Polling booths the BLO's were armed with the electoral rolsl and an index with the surname wise listing. Those who did not receive the slips at home were issued the same at the polling booths itself and these could be used as a substitute for the electoral card. For the first time in India and in elections to the five states including Goa the Poll Monitoring System was introduced. This involved the process of using the thumb impression of every voter and a photo shot of the candidate before he/she casts their vote. If successful this could be used to monitor the poll process and used in upgrading the electoral rolls. When this writer spoke to the Jt Chief Electoral Officer of Goa Mr Narayan Navti Mobile No: 9404912277 late evening he informed that only 8 Electronic Voting Machines were not functioning viz 3 during the mock trial held before the day of polling and 5 after the poll process began . The same was owing to the clock and beep hitch up which was restored immediately but by and large this did not affect nor delay the voting process. The Poll Monitoring was to a great extent used to check real time of the voting process. Meanwhile the overall percentage reported according to Mr Navti was 81.77 %. When this writer toured the entire South Goa District most shops were closed. There was hardly any visible activity around as was seen earlier even the tables of candidates normally seen around the vicinity of the polling booths were missing and the few that were seen around had only the electoral rolls in their hands intended to guide the voter However voters did not seek their assistance. There was a mysteriously strange silence among the voters . It was difficult to decipher from the body language the mood of the voters.post poll. Perhaps for the first time voting found a priority in their daily chores. The security was intense especially in booths termed as very sensitive - For the first time armed constabulary was used with fierce looking comandos from North India wearing black "mufti" and "khaki" uniforms. The body language of the BJP MGP combine revealed a sense of frustration there were charges and counter charges made about distribution of money. This is not new as carrying of voters in vehicles has now become the norm in electoral process despite the laws forbidding the same. Distribution of rich food packets to those in the counting booths were noticed in Cuncolim and other places. At the end of the day the high voting percentage the first of its kind indulged many in animated discussions post poll. There were several who complimented the Election Commission of India for their proactive roll in not only conducting the elections but also educating the workers and specially the youth the first time voters to cast their vote much before polling day. All eyes are on the counting date on 6th March, 2012. The counting will commence at 0800 hrs and by 1200 hrs all results will be expected.When this writer tried to contact the Chief Electoral Officer Mr . S Kumaraswamy on 9552550277 he was not available for comments. Both camps exude confidence of winning but the ruling party appears confident that the stability provided in governance for the first time since the early 1990 and the schemes floated by them for the benefit of the common man has besides the right of parents to decide the medium of instructions for their wards for the benefit of the common man clearly appears to have been reciprocated by the electorate despite the onslaught of corruption charges and family rule made by the hapless opposition whose numbers shrunk from 14 to 12. The inner dissent created by first denial of Assembly ticket to the BJP Panaji Parliamentary Constituency MP Mr Shripad Naik for the Porvorim Assembly Constituency by the local BJP and the last minute offer which was not accepted by Mr Naik as it offerred him no time to contest. The denial of ticket to the BJP MLA of Sanguem. The denial of ticket to the ex BJP MLA Mr Prakash Velip for the Quepem Constitutency, expelling of two party activist in North Goa District for anti party activities and the denial of imposition of medium of instructions in regional languages Marathi and Konkani (devanagari script ) has all resulted in a weak BJP approaching the electorate for a mandate to rule. Now that they been out of power since 2005 many felt that for them a win was a must or else they would be cast out of oblivion come next elections in 2017. The CID reports indicate that a nonagerian voter from Galgibag in Canacona Assembly Constituency who was brought to cast his votes expired at the polling booth. Another old person who was infirm was brought to cast his votes at a booth in Colva and those who brought him were rebuked by the polling staff as he could not sit or stand for a photo shot. GODFREY J.I. GONSALVES, BORDA, MARGAO, 403 602, GOA. 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