from special correspondent
with additional inputs and pics from Rajtilak Naik
Daijiworld Media Network - Goa (MB)
Panaji, Oct 31 (10-30 pm): Low turnout was witnessed since morning for the Mormugao constituency Lok sabha constituency by-poll in south Goa.
Women voters standing outside a polling booth at Davorlim, South Goa
A Para Military force jawan guarding a hyper-sensitive booth
Vigilant Para Military force jawans; an elderly voter is being helped by a volunteer
A quiet scene in front of a polling booth suggesting the lukewarm response to the election
The polling was not marked by queues. "In last three and a half hours hardly 10 to 15 per cent polling was registered" an official from state electoral office stated.
Congress' Fransisco Sardinha, BJP's Dr Wilfred Mesquita, Jawahar Dias (independent) and Hamja Khan (Independent) are in fray for the by-poll.
The voters lined up
A polling booth
Para Military force jawans checking voters' identity
The voting process
Polling booths showing lukewarm response
The election in this constituency was caused after sitting Congress MP Churchill Alemao resigned on May 8, 2007 to enter the state politics.
Total 5,60,898 voters were eligible to cast their votes in the election, held on 590 polling booths. The voters comprise 2,81,560 males and 2,79,338 females.
This was the 13th election for this constituency since Goa's liberation in 1961.
Of the total booths, 65 were declared sensitive while none were hyper sensitive, officials stated. Police stated that the election process was peaceful.
The election was conducted on electronic voting machines (EVMs) and 800 such machines were at the disposal of election officials.
Rajtilak Naik adds with pics:
Goans were experiencing yet another election after a gap of just 3 months since the Assembly elections in July. In a span of 6 months this was the 3rd election faced by the Goans. First was the Panchayat in May, then the Assembly elections in June and now the Lok Sabha Bye elections. The intelligent Goans opted to stay at home and enjoy the day with their families, go a trip or just find some options of keeping themselves away from the elections.
Till the last official report came, there was less than 35% of voting was registered. If this turned out to be the final percentage than it could be the lowest percentage ever recorded in the history of the state election.