Goa Assembly elections 2022 Highlights: Polling concludes with 79% turnout

In 2017, Goa recorded a higher turnout as 81.21% of those eligible to poll cast their votes.

Single-phase polling for all 40 seats in Goa ends with a turnout of 78.94%. Sanquelim, from where CM and BJP leader Pramod Sawant is one of the candidates, witnessed maximum polling, at 89.64%

AI tools were used at several polling booths. These helped us keep a count of voters standing in the queues. We will improvise the same in future elections to monitor booths: Praveen Volvotkar, Nodal IT officer, Goa

The polling is over in most booths but is still on in certain areas as those who entered the line prior to polling close at 6pm have been be allowed to vote: Kunal, Chief Electoral Officer, Goa

With single-phase polling in final stretch, voter turnout in Goa recorded at 75.29%, as per ECI data.

Goa records voter turnout of 60.18% till 3pm as single-phase polling continues for all 40 assembly seats in state.

Goans will not allow the ulterior motive of TMC-MGP to divide the Hindu Votes, tweets CM and BJP leader Pramod Sawant.

Voting percentage touched 44.62 per cent till 1pm.

Congress candidate from Calangute, Michael Lobo and his wife Delilah Lobo, exercised their franchise at a polling booth in the constituency.

Amit Palekar, the Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) chief ministerial candidate said there will be a sea change after results are declared on March 10. “People are voting enthusiastically to defeat corruption. We will witness a sea change. Let's wait for March 10 results,” Palekar said. 

Voter turnout recorded at 26.63% till 11am.

The chief electoral officer said polling process was peaceful with 11.04% voter turnout so far. “We want more people to vote this time, expecting record-breaking voting. Five control units, 11 VVPATs replaced during mock polls, this is a normal procedure,” the officer was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

Chief minister Pramod Sawant caste his vote in Kothambi constituency.

Goa saw a voter turnout of 11.04% till 9am.

Michael Lobo, Congress candidate from Calangute, said people are voting not for any particular constituency, but for Goa. “When we talk about Goa, we talk about boys and girls who are unemployed, about mining being closed for last 10 yrs, about problems in tourism industry. People are going to vote for future,” said Lobo. 

Chief minister Pramod Sawant and his wife Sulakshana Sawant offer prayers at Shree Rudreshwar Devasthan in Harvalem.

Utpal Parrikar, son of late chief minister Parrikar visits polling booths in Panaji. He is contesting as an Independent candidate in the constituency.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra took to Twitter to urge Goan voters to choose development and a politics that puts people first. “To all my Goan friends today; choose development, choose a politics that puts you first, choose the freedom to be you: choose Goa!” she wrote.

Chief minister Pramod Sawant said PM Modi called him to extend his wishes for the election. “The PM called me in the morning to give his best wishes. I'm fully confident the BJP will win 22+ seats. The infrastructure development by the BJP in 10 years and PM Modi's self-reliant vision will definitely benefit us with a 100 per cent majority,” he said.

Himachal Pradesh governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar casts his vote at a polling booth in Vasco da Gama Assembly constituency.

After casting his vote, Goa governor PS Sreedharan Pillai said, “People in Goa are cooperative. There are no major political clashes. The elections will be free and fair. The ECI and all political parties deserve appreciation. This year I expect more people will come to the polling booths.” 

Preparations were underway ahead of voting at a polling booth in Taleigao Assembly constituency.

The single-phase election to the 40 Assembly constituencies in Goa will begin shortly.