Assembly constituencies located in the mining belts South Goa recorded a very high voter turnout by the end of polling on Monday.
The constituencies in the mining belts saw more than 80 per cent voter turnout, according to EC figures.
Among them, Sarvordem (86.43%), Sanguem (86.19%), Quepem (83.45%) and Curchorem (80.29%) percent) topped the voting chart. This belt had witnessed a lull in economic activities due to a ban on mining.
According to Puti Gaonkar, convener of the Goa Mining Front that is leading the agitation for the mining dependents people in the belt, people have come out in large numbers to teach a lesson to the ruling BJP government.
Gaonkar said BJP gave false promises to people on the resumption of mining in the state. "They made no effort to reopen the closed mines. So the people were very angry against the government. The same displeasure has been expressed by the people through voting in large numbers," he said.
The highest voter turnout was recorded in Savordem among all mining dominated constituencies in South Goa. Senior Congress leader Tribolo Soza said the high voter turnout was a signal against the incumbent government.
"The mines were closed by the BJP and no attempt was made to reopen them despite having a two full-term government. As a result, people were facing financial difficulties. In such a situation, people naturally got angry with the government," he said.
Former Quepem Mayor Pinti Hodarkar echoed the same sentiment, saying that the voting held in Quepem was against BJP.
Though as many as 301 candidates, including many Independents, are in the fray for the 40 seats, the fight is mainly between the ruling BJP, Congress, AAP, MGP-TMC.
The counting of votes will be taken up on March 10.