NT Reporter
Panaji
Despite various issues plaguing the coastal areas of Calangute and Candolim, the 66.87 per cent turnout in Calangute Zilla Panchayat constituency has left the political parties guessing on the fate of their candidates.
Reserved for women, the constituency witnessed four-cornered fight. The constituency witnessed steady turnout with 14.95% till 10 am, 30.71% till 12 pm, 45.46% till 12 pm, 57.82% till 4 pm.
“The fire incident at the nightclub which claimed lives of 25 people may have an impact in the Calangute constituency. It has brought out many illegalities happening in the constituency. Tourism activities are necessary but it should not be at the cost of peoples’ lives,” said a young woman voter from Arpora.
A voter from Calangute in his sixties, whose neighbour is into taxi business, said that the government is yet to find a concrete solution to the taxi issue and many of the taximen are from this coastal belt of Calangute and Candolim.
“It has to be seen whom they support,” he said
A voter from Candolim expressed that though four political parties fielded their candidates, the constituency could have witnessed a straight fight between the BJP and Congress.
“This election may also help the sitting MLA in gauging his strength ahead of the upcoming assembly election,” he said.
Some of the voters in this coastal area pointed out to problems like lack of infrastructure including parking spaces and proper roads besides traffic mismanagement.
“The weekends are a nightmare for the locals. The tourists drive in a rash and negligent manner creating nuisance. Sometimes they are even drunk and pick up fights with the locals,” a 25-year old youth said.
A senior citizen expressed that as ZP members do not have much powers and even if they get elected they will not be able to
do any major developmental works.
