Panaji, Valpoi Assembly seats see 70% polling

Above 70 per cent of the electorate cast their franchise in the byelections to Panaji and Valpoi Assembly seats in Goa on Wednesday. Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar was among the early voters.

In the Panaji contest, BJP stalwart Parrikar is in the fray against Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi’s confidante Girish Chodankar.

Goa Suraksha Manch’s Anand Shirodkar is also contesting the byelection to Panaji seat.

The voting began at 8 am on 30 booths in Panaji constituency and 46 booths in Valpoi. The counting of votes will take place here on August 28. Parrikar expressed confidence that he will win. “I don’t see any opposition for me in the constituency,” he said.