Panaji, June 2: Candidates contesting the Goa Legislative Assembly polls today feared low voter turnout due to downpour with the monsoon setting in.
Rains continued to lash Goa since 0400 hrs as predicted by the MET office and the intensity picked up after 0900 hrs even as the polling began at 0800 hrs.
Goa reported 68.79 per cent polling in 2002 elections and 63.5 per cent in 1999 polls.
There are 10,10,207 electorates for the current polls involving 202 candidates.
Authorities ruled out the suggestion of extending poll timing due to rain but assured they would allow voters who were in the queue till 1700 hrs to cast their votes.
Mapusa town, however, reported 9 per cent polling despite rain in the first two hours. Senior citizens heaved a sigh of relief as they were allowed direct entry into the booths to cast their votes without falling in general queues.
Some polling booths, however, registered thin voting in the capital but longer queues are seen in Tonka and Taleigao.
Authorities are patrolling the areas to check campaigning by the candidates. They have seized campaign material canvassing for UGDP candidate Atanasio Monserrage from one of the agents away from a polling booth.
The polling is yet to pick up in rural areas where most of the electorates are expected to cast their votes in the afternoon.
Meanwhile, BJP's chief ministerial candidate Manohar Parrikar exercised his franchise at a booth in Pharmacy College. He exuded confidence that the party would be voted back to power by the electorates who turned up in large numbers despite rains.
UNI
Rains continued to lash Goa since 0400 hrs as predicted by the MET office and the intensity picked up after 0900 hrs even as the polling began at 0800 hrs.
Goa reported 68.79 per cent polling in 2002 elections and 63.5 per cent in 1999 polls.
There are 10,10,207 electorates for the current polls involving 202 candidates.
Authorities ruled out the suggestion of extending poll timing due to rain but assured they would allow voters who were in the queue till 1700 hrs to cast their votes.
Mapusa town, however, reported 9 per cent polling despite rain in the first two hours. Senior citizens heaved a sigh of relief as they were allowed direct entry into the booths to cast their votes without falling in general queues.
Some polling booths, however, registered thin voting in the capital but longer queues are seen in Tonka and Taleigao.
Authorities are patrolling the areas to check campaigning by the candidates. They have seized campaign material canvassing for UGDP candidate Atanasio Monserrage from one of the agents away from a polling booth.
The polling is yet to pick up in rural areas where most of the electorates are expected to cast their votes in the afternoon.
Meanwhile, BJP's chief ministerial candidate Manohar Parrikar exercised his franchise at a booth in Pharmacy College. He exuded confidence that the party would be voted back to power by the electorates who turned up in large numbers despite rains.
UNI
RelatedStories
News In Focus: State Assembly Polls 07>
Oneindia Login