India: Goa Congress moves poll candidates to resort to beat poaching bids
State may know its new members of legislature at 11am on Thursday, electoral office says
Panaji, Goa: Amid pollsters’ predictions of a hung Assembly in Goa, Congress has moved its 2022 Assembly poll candidates to a resort to avoid poaching bids by rival parties.
“We have not forced any candidate to stay over [at the resort]. They voluntarily decided to stay together,” said Sunil Kauthankar, general secretary, Congress, Goa.
The party has brought in its senior leadership, including DK Shivakumar from Karnataka, with the candidates in Bambolim Beach Resort of Goa.
“Not correct to say that we are keeping a hold on our leaders because they have come from other states also [to ensure framing of Congress government],” said Kauthankar.
Congress, which is predicted by the pollsters to be in a close race with the BJP for the seat of power in the state, doesn’t want to repeat the mistake of the 2017 polls when the party couldn’t form the government emerging as the single largest party.
“This time we have adopted a strategy which is very complex and comprehensive. We are very confident that all our candidates are sticking together,” said Congress leader on being asked about 2017 polls.
“...got strong response from other political parties who have fought against the BJP... confident of forming government tomorrow itself,” he added.
Exit polls have predicted a hung Assembly in Goa, with the close contest between the BJP and Congress.
Locked in EVMs
Meanwhile, Chief Electoral Office for Goa, Kunal said Goa may know its new legislators by as early as 11am on Thursday, He also urged the people of the state not to believe in rumours.
Speaking to reporters here, Kunal also said that counting of votes locked in the EVMs in the state would begin at around 8.30am.
“The process will begin with the counting of service voters, then, absentee voter ballots will be counted, after which polling officials ballots will be counted. Then at 8.30 am counting of EVMs will start,” Kunal said.
“We have given training to all counting personnel and our observers have also come from the Election Commission of India for all constituencies. We are hopeful that our counting process will be over by 10.30 am to 11am. After that VVPAT mandatory counting will be taken up,” Kunal said.
A total 301 candidates are in the fray in the single-phase assembly elections. Nearly 79 per cent voters cast votes in the February 14 polls in Goa.
The top poll officer also said that elaborate security arrangements have been put in place at the counting centres.
“The inner cordon of the counting centres and strong rooms are manned by the central forces. The middle cordon will be guarded by the state armed forces and the outer cordon is guarded by the district police,” Kunal said.