Lok Sabha polls: Candidates in Goa urge voters to exercise their franchise

In a bid to increase awareness among people for greater participation in the upcoming general elections, a non-governmental organisation in Goa organised a direct interaction between people and candidates from different parties to encourage people to exercise their voting right.

Questions on land protection, increase in crime, secularism and corruption were thrown up before the North Goa Lok Sabha candidates of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Congress and CPI at a public debate at Azad Maidan in Panaji yesterday.

Meanwhile, one of the organisers, Vijay Kumar Sullakar, said this was being organised keeping in mind the election date of April 12 in the state and it was an awareness drive among the voters.

"This voting will decide the plans for our country in future and our economy is highly dependent on these well-framed plans and decisions. This is organised to spread voter-awareness among the masses. We are hopeful that people will surely vote both who attended today's interaction and those who will read about it tomorrow," said member of Human Rights Goa, Sullakar.

There was a huge crowd seen during the interaction and people were seen posing questions related to the development and betterment plans of the state. The discussion concluded that if people vote correctly and lead our nation in the right manner, corruption will end.

"I believe that it is the voter's right to vote and each one should try to see that it is the system that is bad, it is not basically any party. We have to work against corruption whoever it is," said an audience member, Pastor Dominc D'souza.

India will hold its general election in nine stages staggered between April 7 and May 12.

The results of the mammoth exercise are due on May 16.