Highest polling above 80% in the mining belt
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 12 April 2014 21:57 IST
Young girls at a booth in Mayem
Goa’s mining belt appeared to be most ‘active’ in today’s Lok Sabha election, polling above 80 per cent in almost all the Assembly segments.
Except Mandrem segment of the coastal North Goa, Poriem of hinterland North Goa as well as Marcaim and Priol of the midland South Goa, the rest eight segments are mining-affected areas.
These are Sankhli (84%), Bicholim and Mayem (83% each), Valpoi, Sanguem and Sanvordem (82%) and Shiroda and Quepem (80%), besides 79% per cent voting in Curchorem.
Goan economy was badly affected due to closure of mining two years ago, incidentally after the BJP government came to power in 2012 in the state, though mining was closed with a Supreme Court order.
The mining is still not started, though some iron ore dumps were e-auctioned recently.
Though the Manohar Parrikar-led BJP government gave doles to the mining affected people in the whole mining belt, the reaction towards the BJP government was mixed in the belt as Parrikar also claimed in Delhi that he was instrumental in closing the mines.
The mines were closed due to a scam of Rs 35,000 crore during the Congress regime, which was exposed with Justice M B Shah Commission probing all kind of irregularities.
The Communist Party of India, which led the Goa Mining Peoples’ Front after the closure, is also contesting the election.
Besides the Congress and the BJP, the mining-dependent people are also upset with Aam Aadmi Party as some of its leaders supported the ban on mining.
|
Constituency |
Polling % |
|
Sankhli |
84 % |
|
Bicholim |
83 % |
|
Mayem |
83 % |
|
Valpoi |
82 % |
|
Sanguem |
82 % |
|
Sanvordem |
82 % |
|
Shiroda |
80 % |
|
Quepem |
80 % |
|
Curchorem |
79 % |
To Clean Up Politics SWARAJ ACT Is A Must. SWARAJ (Power In The Hands Of The People). Decision As Per Survey (Majority Voice). No Interference Of Politicians And Of Political Pressure In Implementing Any People Related Laws, Schemes, Etc. Development Funds In The Hands Of The People And Not In The Hands Of The Ministers/MPs/MLAs.