Goa polls peaceful, 72 pc cast ballots

Politicians across the state were in a state of suspense as most ‘‘safe’’ constituencies were witnessing tough fights. A number of candidates, including senior politicians Wilfred D’Souza, Dayanand Narvekar, Ravi Naik, Luizinho Faliero, Churchill Alemao and others, sweated it out in the summer sun. With political rivalry at a feverish pitch, candidates and their supporters traded charges right outside the boots as well.

In the sensitive Ponda constituency, Congress candidate Ravi Naik, who resigned as the BJP’s deputy chief minister to contest the elections, accused the saffron party’s candidate of trying to use muscle power in the elections. Naik’s rival, MP Shripad Naik, who resigned from the Cabinet to contest the polls in turn accused him of meddling with the voter’s list.

At the Santa Cruz constituency in North Goa, police picked up Congress candidate Victoria Fernandes’ son Rudolf from a slum area while at the nearby Aldona constituency, former deputy chief minister and Congress candidate Dayanand Narvekar tried unsuccessfully to have five of his supporters released from police custody.

They were accused of campaigning in the polling station, a charge denied by them. ‘‘The police are biased. No action is taken on our complaints but our boys are arrested on the complaints of BJP candidates and their supporters,’’ Narvekar said. The results will be declared on Saturday.