
Bypolls to five Assembly constituencies in Goa were peaceful today with a record turnout of 65 pc. The highest percentage of voting, 73.89 pc, was recorded in Poinginim, Chief Electoral Officer Rajiv Yaduvaunshi said.
According to police, two people were detained for impersonation. A minor girl was caught while trying to cast her vote in Margao on behalf of the BJP candidate. As several hundred BJP workers thronged the local voting booth to secure her release, an equal number of Congress activists resisted the attempt. The girl was released later in the day when a Congress supporter was caught impersonating in another constituency. Both parties then agreed to withdraw allegations of impersonation.
At the sensitive Benaulim constituency, where Mickey Pachecho of the NCP is facing Monte Cruz of the United Goans Democratic Party, party workers from both sides were seen transporting bundles of Rs 1,000 notes for distribution to voters. ‘‘Both sides may have spent as much as Rs 4 crore in Benaulim alone,’’ a source said.
The BJP has an edge in Poinguinium where it is facing Isidore Fernandes of Congress who quit the BJP and is contesting afresh. The Congress is at an advantage in Taleigao and Margao, while its rebel leader Nirmala Sawant, as an Independent, is leading in Cumbarjua. Pachecho enjoys a slight edge in Benaulim.
The Goa Assembly has been in suspended animation after defections by five MLAs from the BJP that toppled the Manohar Parrikar-led government this year. The five defectors are now contesting on Congress and NCP tickets. The results will be out on June 6.





