74 per cent voters turn up for Panaji civic polls

Around 74 per cent of the total electorate voted in the Corporation of City of Panaji (CCP) polls held today.
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar was amongst the first few to queue up in front of the booth to cast his vote.
"For a smart city, you need a smart council and BJP will give that," he told reporters here.
A total of 74.81 per cent of the total electorate voted for the CCP election held today. 72.31 per cent males and 75.22 per cent females voted, Goa State Election Commission said in a statement issued here.
The fate of the total 95 candidates is now sealed and counting of votes for the 30 wards will be held on March 8.

While maximum voting was reported in ward number 17 at 86.22 per cent, the minimum was reported from ward number two at 63.12 per cent, it added.
The election which comes a year before the state Legislative Assembly polls has become a prestige issue for ruling BJP.
Meanwhile, security was beefed up as the district administration had deployed three flying squad, one each looking after ten wards.