While the polling is underway in first phase of assembly elections for 40 seats in Goa, India’s Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar remained mysterious about the development by dropping hints on the chief ministerial candidate of Goa.
Manohar Parrikar casted his vote in Panaji. Answering to the question outside polling booth he told reporters, “I am a party 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.
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.
“Urging people of Punjab & Goa to turnout in record numbers & vote in the Assembly elections. I particularly urge my young friends to vote,” he said in a tweet.
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.
Goa CM Parsekar, who among the early voters in the state, has expressed confidence that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would come to power, when the results are announced on March 11.
“There is no doubt about victory. What matters is what we do for Goa after March 11,” Parsekar said.
