71.2 percent voting in Panaji by-poll

Over 71 percent turnout was witnessed in the Panaji by-poll which concluded peacefully late Friday, officials said.

According to poll officials, 71.2 percent voters of the 22,000-strong electorate of Panaji constituency cast their ballots.

The main candidates - Sidharth Kunkaliencar of the state's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and Surendra Furtado of the Congress - both expressed confidence about their respective chances of victory when the votes will be counted on Feb 15.

Four candidates are contesting the by-poll which has been necessitated after the elevation of sitting MLA and chief minister Manohar Parrikar to the union cabinet as defence minister in November last year.

Polling was peaceful with no untoward incident being reported in the capital constituency which incidentally has no sensitive polling booths.

Two Independent candidates - Samir Kelekar and Sadanand Vaingankar - were also in the fray.