Bypoll: Voting underway in Panaji and Valpoi Assembly seats

Voting was underway today for the byelections to Panaji and Valpoi Assembly seats in Goa.
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar being 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. Chodankar also exuded confidence of winning from the seat.

"This verdict will go against Parrikar. There is a strong undercurrent which will work in our favour," he said.

Goa Suraksha Manch leader Subhash Velingkar, who was also among the early voters, said party's nominee Anand Shirodkar will be victorious. "The people have decided to vote for Shirodkar. Though with a less margin, Shirodkar will defeat Parrikar," Velingkar claimed.

In Valpoi constituency, located around 80 kms from here, the BJP has fielded Congress rebel and health minister Vishwajeet Rane, whose main opponent is Roy Naik, the son of former state Home minister Ravi Naik, of the Congress.

"People have decided to get me elected. The verdict is already out in my favour. The Congress will lose its deposit," Rane claimed. The Panaji bypoll was necessitated after the BJP's sitting MLA, Siddharth Kuncolienkar, vacated the seat for Parrikar, as the latter has to get elected to the Assembly within six months of becoming the chief minister.

The byelection in Valpoi became necessary after Rane, the sitting MLA, joined the BJP after the Parrikar-led government won a crucial floor test in March this year. While Parrikar has promised the overall development of Panaji through an action plan, the Congress alleged that the BJP leader, who had represented the constituency from 1994 to 2012, has proved "inefficient".

In Valpoi seat, Rane, the son of veteran Congress leader and former chief minister Pratapsinh Rane, has assured of creating employment for the local youth.