NDTV

Jun 5: Counting of votes for the elections to the 40-member Goa Assembly is underway amidst tight security.

According to initial trends, the Congress is leading in nine seats followed by the BJP with five seats while Others are ahead in three seats.

BJP nominee and sitting MLA Vijay Pai Khot has won the Canacona Assembly seat by defeating Congress candidate Sanjay Bhandekar by 226 votes.

Congress is leading in southern constituencies of Loutolim, Velim and St Andre and Margao assembly constituency.

Sitting MLA and BJP spokesperson Laxmikant Parsekar is leading in Mandrem. The BJP is also leading in Mormugao while independent candidate Anil Salgaonkar is leading in Sanvordem.

Former Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar is leading in Panaji constituency and sitting MLA Ramrao Desai of BJP is trailing in the Curchorem seat.

In all, 202 candidates, including 49 independents, are in the fray for election, which was held on June 2.

The main battle is between the ruling Congress-NCP coalition, led by Pratapsinh Rane and the BJP opposition led by chief ministerial candidate Manohar Parrikar.

The BJP is contesting for the highest 33 seats, followed by its rival Congress 32, the oldest Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party-26, Save Goa Front (SGF)-17.

Also, JD(S) and UGDP-11 each, Shiv Sena-7, Nationalist Congress Party-6, Communist Party of India (CPI)-3, CPI(Marxist)-1, RPI(A)-4, GSP-1, and Independents-50.

Political tangle

Ahead of the vote count, leaders of ruling Congress and main opposition BJP claimed they will form the next government in the state.

''We will get a simple majority and wrest power from Congress,'' former Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Manohar Parrikar said.

Asked to specify the number of seats he expected BJP to win, Parrikar said, ''We will win at least 21 seats''.

Parrikar had earlier stated that his party would prefer to sit in Opposition if it fails to get a clear-cut majority.

Senior Congress party leader and MP Shantaram Naik said his party would get a 'comfortable majority' and retain power.

''Initially, we projected that Congress would garner around 30 seats but that figure has come down in the backdrop of smaller parties managing to split votes,'' he added.

If there is a hung assembly, it is smaller parties which will become king makers and this time when it comes to allies, the BJP may have the edge.

The top kingmaker this time is Churchill Alemao, who left the Congress to form the Save Goa Front. And then there is United Goan Democratic party, which again may win one or two seats.

First report:

Goa Assembly Polls: Countdown on Counting Process

Report and pics from Rajtilak Naik in Panaji
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (MB)
 
Panaji, Jun 5: The fate of all the 202 candidates who are in the fray of the Goa assembly elections 2007 will be decidedby noon on Tuesday, June 5

The Central Reserve Police Force jawans guarding the strong room where electronic voting machines are stored

The Central Police Reserve Force personnel are on their toes guarding the electronic voting machines which are being stored in Strong Rooms at Panaji and Margao

Bomb Disposal Squad Personnel is seen inspecting the area outside Bal Bhavan in Panaji 

 The CRPF Jawans share a light moment as they keep guard

A vigilant CRPF jawan outside the strong room at Panaji

The couting process will start at 8.00 am sharp and all the results are expected to be out by 12.00 noon or even earlier.
 
Along with the CRPF Jawans the Goa bomb disposal squad was also present with their sniffer dogs at all the Strong Rooms across the state.