SALIGAO; BJP SNATCHES WIN AFTER RECOUNT
By Herald Reporter (March 16, 2005)
PANJIM, MARCH 15 -- After two rounds of recounting of votes of Saligao constituency, BJP supported candidate Neeta Kandolkar won the seat by four votes against her closest rival NCP-supported Violante D'Souza.
The recounting saw high drama and leaders of the BJP who were conspicuous by their absence during the day, rushed in to assist their candidate.
Kandolkar polled 2500 votes, just four more than her rival.
The high drama started about 7 oclock when it was declared that NCP's D'Souza had won by just one vote. She had polled 2499 votes.
In a swift move, Mrs Kandolkar made an application before the Returning Officer Bhartu for recounting.
The NCP chief Dr Wilfred D'Souza reached counting hall after BJP president Rajendra Arlekar made his entry in support of BJP candidate.
The recounting was strongly objected by Dr D'souza stating that it should not be allowed as the applicant had not given any valid reason.
While supporters from both the sides waited with bated breath for order of the Returning officer on the re-counting issue, both the parties also summoned their respective lawyers.
Former additional advocate general Vilas Thali appeared to aid Mrs Kandolkar while, Adv Santosh Karpe was seen advising Dr Wilfred de Souza.
While both the candidates contestd each others claims, by 9 pm the returning officer ordered re-counting of certain booths.
With the recounting concluding at 11.30 pm the fate of the two candidates was still not decided. Interestingly, recounting of votes of booth 12 showed that Voilanta D'Souza was losing by one vote. Shocked by the outcome, D'Souza this time applied for a reecount.
When the votes were recounted in the final round, Mrs Kandolkar was declared winner by four votes. It was midnight by then.
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WILLY HE WON'T HE: DOCTOR GETS ROUGH TREATMENT IN SALIGAO
Our Staff Reporter
PANAJI: In a ding-dong battle, which witnessed the fortunes fluctuate tantalising on both sides, a candidate backed by the BJP in the Zilla Parishad elections, Neeta Khandolkar in Saligao constituency, defeated her NCP-based rival, Valentina D'Souza, by a wafer-thin majority.
The counting and recounting of this constituency turned into a prestige issue of sorts with not only the candidates and their supporters but also the counting staff and the officials getting drawn into a five-hour long drama.
It all started when D'Souza backed by the NCP Goa chief and MLA, Dr Wilfred de Souza was declared the winner by just one vote. The winner had bagged 2500 votes as against 2499 polled by the loser. The BJP state president and Vasco MLA, Rajendra Arlekar immediately called for a recount.
A number of applications were put forth by advocate Vilas Thali on behalf of the BJP candidate before a recount of only 12 of the total number of booths was ordered.
As soon as the announcement for the recount was made, the counting staff sighed in anguish and braced themselves for another round of counting.
"Kantallo ailo", one lady sighed while another gentleman groaned that he had to make arrangements for his daughter's civil marriage the next day.
The recount of the few booths started at around 9 pm. Here again, the counting produced palpable tension with Dr Willy and Arlekar standing plumb in front of the assistant returning officer's table all through.
This time, Kandolkar won by one vote. It was declared that she had polled 2,499 against Valentina's 2,498 -- two votes less than the first count.
In what was an amazing development, it was clear that one vote had been 'lost' and another was declared 'invalid' in the recount.
At this juncture, the pangs of hunger seemed to have engulfed the counting staff and one member was seen animatedly discussing with an officer over the fact that dinner had not been served only to them though it was almost 11 pm. This had the desired effect and promptly the food packets and soft drinks reached the counting hall.
It was now Dr Willy's turn to ask for a recount of the remaining seven booths -- the third count. But at the end of it all, well past midnight, Kandolkar had won the Saligao ZP seat by bagging 2,500 votes to 2,496 polled by D'Souza.
And Dr Willy conceded defeat. (Gomantak Times) =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--W-E-B--S-I-T-E--=-=-=-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from Saligaonet | http://www.goacom.com/saligao_tinto/ ============================================================================ * Send e=mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] (NOT saligaonet@goacom.com) * Leave SUBJECT blank <--- Commom Mistake !! * On first line of the BODY of your message, type: subscribe saligaonet YOUR.EMAIL OR unsubscribe saligaonet YOUR.EMAIL Questions/Problems? Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
