Parrikar expresses confidence of winning Panaji bypoll by substantial margin

Panaji, Aug 23: Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar today expressed confidence that he would win the Panaji by-poll with a substantial margin. Speaking to reporters after casting his vote at a pooling booth in the city, he said, "From my side we will get 98 per cent of the voters. Two percent may not be able to come for some technical, medical reasons. ... My lead will increase." The Chief Minister said he did not see any opposition to him in the by-election. When asked what would be margin of the votes after his victory, it was though there was no projection but it would be substantial. When pointed out that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had put in more efforts in the election campaign this time, he asked, 'Should not one campaign?' 'When there were general elections, we would campaign all over Goa. Now we are campaigning only in Panaji," he said. Mr Parrikar is pitted against Girish Chodankar of Congress, Anand Shirodkar of Goa Suraksha Manch and Keneth Silvera, independent candidate. Counting of votes will take place on August 28. UNI