Panaji, March 18 (PTI): Voting for the zilla panchayat (ZP) polls in Goa, which has 149 candidates in the fray contesting from 50 constituencies, began this morning.
The polling process began at 8 AM. Though not many voters turned up to exercise their franchise in the initial hour, the turnout is expected to go up after 10 AM.
This is for the first time in Goa that ZP polls are being held on party lines. BJP-Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) and Goa Vikas Party (GVP) have formed an alliance to contest in all the constituencies, while Congress and NCP are not in the fray.
Congress and NCP leaders are supporting various candidates in different constituencies.
Polling is being held at 1,209 booths across the state-- 628 in North Goa and 581 in South Goa.