As the polling is underway in first phase of the assembly elections 2017 for 40 seats in Goa, a 75 year old woman has sets an example for many by casting her vote at the polling booth no.14 in Goa’s Margao area. Women are casting their votes at the pink booth in Margao.
Also Several first time female voters who cast their ballot came away with more than just an indelible ink stain on their fingers as they were given Teddy bears.
In a unique bid to encourage women voters and to exercise their voting rights in Goa, the authorities have set up several ‘pink’ polling booths across the state.
In Goa, about 11.10 lakh voters are going to decide the fate of 251 candidates including 19 women. About 32,000 young voters will be exercising their franchise for the first time and women voters outnumber men this time.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi called on the electorate to turnout in record numbers and cast their votes without fail.
Meanwhile, Goa recorded 15 per cent voting in the first two hours, since polling began at 7 a.m., on Saturday for the state’s 40 assembly seats, election officials said.
India’s Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar remained mysterious about the development by dropping hints on the chief ministerial candidate of Goa.
75- year old woman casts her vote at polling booth no.14 in Goa’s Margao #GoaElection2017 pic.twitter.com/5cLXcGJO8h
— ANI (@ANI_news) February 4, 2017
Earlier, Manohar Parrikar casted his vote in Panaji. Answering to the question outside polling booth he told reporters, “I am a party’s man, let party decide.”
“I am a party’s man, I will do what party says, though, I have lost about 4 kgs in Delhi and the main reason is food. Now you can interpret in whatever way you want.”
Retorting to the criticism from the opposition parties for his involvement in the Goa assembly elections, Parrikar said he was “the leader of the state”.
Earlier in January, Parrikar had even indicated that he might relinquish his current job as Defence Minister and that he is ready to go back to Goa politics if the BJP forms government in Goa.
