Parrikar demands EC to initiate action on by-poll malpractices

With the conclusion of Goa by-polls, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Wednesday demanded the Election Commission (EC) to initiate action if it uncovers significant evidence of wrongdoing in Panaji and Valpoi as attempts can be made to sabotage the results.

He said that he is confident of winning the by-polls by a huge margin.

Nearly 75 percent voting was recorded in today's by-poll in Goa's two assembly constituencies, Panaji and Valpoi, with both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress claiming victory in both seats.

According to statistics issued by the Chief Electoral Officer, 70 percent voting was recorded in the Panaji assembly constituency, where Chief Minister Parrikar was facing Congress' Girish Chodankar and Goa Suraksha Mancha's Anand Shirodkar.

The poll was by and large peaceful, barring one minor altercation in each constituency.

Chief Minister Parrikar expressed confidence of sweeping the Panaji by-poll, claiming that his opponents failed to get any traction from the voters.

The Chief Minister continued that he was satisfied with the conduct of the poll authorities, but the Congress alleged that election officials were biased in favour of the ruling BJP.

The by-poll results will be declared on August 28.