LS polls: 75.2% polling in Goa; rural voters turn out in large numbers

Goa recorded 75.20 percent turnout during polling across 1,725 booths on Tuesday. (Representative Image)

The rural assembly segments have witnessed a higher voter turnout compared to urban areas in the elections to the two Lok Sabha seats in Goa, as per the Election Commission’s data.

Goa recorded 75.20 percent turnout during polling across 1,725 booths on Tuesday. The voting was 76.34 percent in the North Goa Lok Sabha seat and 73.90 percent in the South Goa parliamentary constituency, according to the data released by the Election Commission of India (ECI).

Poriem, Sankhalim and Valpoi assembly segments, located in the rural belt of North Goa Lok Sabha constituency, recorded high voting. The Poriem assembly segment, represented by BJP MLA Deviya Rane, recorded 87.11 percent turnout, followed by 86.5 percent in Sankhalim assembly segment, represented by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, as per the ECI data.

The Valpoi assembly segment, represented by Goa Health Minister Vishwajit Rane, recorded 82.97 percent voting.

Among the rural assembly segments in South Goa, Sanguem witnessed 82.22 percent turnout and Sanvordem 79.98 percent. Vasco and Margao, both assembly segments in South Goa, registered 67.10 percent and 73.64 percent polling, respectively. In North Goa, the urban assembly segments of Panaji recorded 67.26 percent turnout and Mapusa 74 percent, as per the ECI data.

Among the Christian-dominated assembly segments, Benaulim witnessed 68.49 percent polling, Navelim 71.43 percent, Cuncolim 72 percent and Velim 69 percent. All these segments fall under the Salcette taluka in South Goa. The BJP fielded sitting MP Shripad Naik from North Goa against Ramakant Khalap of the Congress and Manoj Parab of the Revolutionary Goans Party (RGP). In South Goa, the Congress denied renomination to its sitting MP Francisco Sardinia and fielded Viriato Fernandes against BJP candidate Pallavi Dempo and RGP’s Rubert Pereira. A total of 16 candidates, eight each in North and South Goa Lok Sabha constituencies, contested the elections.