High voter turnout in Punjab, Goa

​Chandigarh/Panaji: Punjab and Goa on Saturday voted heavily with an estimated 72 per cent and a record-breaking 83 per cent turnout, respectively, as the first round of Assembly elections in five states concluded by and large peacefully, the Election Commission said.

Traditional rivals BJP and Congress are locked in a keen electoral battle in the two states where s AAP has made its maiden foray in the Assembly elections, seeking to play a killjoy for the two major contenders for power.

In Punjab, the district with the highest voter turnout was Fazilka at 76% where as the lowest was Amritsar district at 59%.

Traditionally, both Punjab and Goa have been high turnout state with Punjab having 78.3% turnout and Goa having 77.06% turnout in the 2012 Assembly polls.

Around 67% of the total 1.98 crore electors exercised their franchise in the high- stakes Punjab Assembly elections, wherein 1,145 candidates are in the fray. The state has taken off to a slow start specially given that in the 2012 Assembly elections it had a turnout of 78.3%.

The 117-member Punjab Assembly polls will see an incumbent Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP combine, in power for a decade now, fighting one of its toughest electoral fights against former chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh-led Congress and AAP as key challengers.

The Congress is contesting all seats on its own, AAP is contesting on 112 seats and five have been given to Lok Insaf Party of Bains brothers where as SAD is contesting 94 seats and has fielded BJP candidates on 23 seats.

In Goa, the ruling BJP faces a stiff challenge from Congress, AAP and an alliance among regional outfit Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), Goa Suraksha Manch (GSM), and Shiv Sena. Results will be declared on March 11.

In Punjab a total electorate of 1.98 crore people to decide that fate of 1,145 candidates, including 81 women and a transgender.

Around 1.08 million voters are eligible to cast votes in Goa at 1649 polling booths. In 2012 elections, Goa witnessed 82.94% polling. The Election Commission of Goa has taken measures to further improve the voting percentage to at least 90% this time around.

The Election Commission has introduced a number of novel ideas in Goa since 2010—like preparing voter profile, using Real Time Poll Monitoring System, and Systematic Voter Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP)—to encourage voters to participate.

Except for the AAP, no political party or alliance in Goa is contesting all 40 seats. Even AAP is contesting 39 seats on its own and has supported a candidate in one seat. The incumbent BJP has put up its nominees on 36 seats and is supporting independents on 2.

In the 2012 polls, the BJP had contested 28 seats and won 21. The Congress has fielded 37 candidates while the MGP-GSM-SS alliance is contesting 35 seats.

In total, 250 nominees have filed their nominations for 40 seats, up from 202 in 2012. South Goa, which accounts for 16 assembly constituencies, has more nominees though-131—than North Goa’s 119.