UPDATE: 70% voting in Goa till afternoon

Maximum turnout in Madkai and Sankhalim BJP, Congress activists trade blows in Panaji

With as much as 70% of Goan voters turning out at polling booths till afternoon, BJP today said it would be able to form the government in the state.

By 3.30 pm, 70% voting had been registered in the coastal state. At a booth in Davorlim in Navelim constituency, a near-cent percent voting had taken place, election officials said.

In the last assembly election, this much voting had taken place at the end of the day.

BJP's Goa desk in-charge, Aarti Mehra, said the people coming out in huge numbers meant that they wanted a change.

"We had received good response during our campaigning. I have addressed at least 25 meetings and the response to these meetings was enormous," she said, talking to PTI.

Mehra said that BJP - Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) alliance would be able to win more than 25 seats.

"The alliance is really working well," she said.

North District had registered 71% voting by 3.30 pm, while South Goa had registered 67%. Queues were still seen in front of most polling booths.

The voting would end at 5 pm.

Congress said that the high turn-out could not be said to be signalling victory of a particular party.

"This is welcome that people have come out in a large number to vote. We are sure that they will be voting for Congress-NCP," party's chief spokesman in Goa, Shantaram Naik, told PTI.

The awareness campaign of Election Commission (EC) helped to get the people out of houses, he said.

"People feel it is a matter of pride to come out and vote," Naik said.

Of the total 40 seats, BJP is contesting 28, MGP 8, Congress 33, and NCP 7. BJP-MGP alliance is supporting independents at four places.

Trinamool Congress is contesting 21 seats. There are 215 candidates, including 74 independents, in the fray.