From confines of colonial rule to democracy: Goa's electoral journey

Amidst the sun-kissed shores and the echoes of its storied past, Goa stands as a beacon of democracy, its electoral journey a testament to resilience and evolution. From the colonial corridors of Portuguese rule to Indian democracy, Goa has come a long way.

In the annals of history, electoral footprints in Portuguese Goa date back to 1821, when Goans voted in the Portuguese parliamentary elections. And then in 1961, when Goa became a part of India.

The year 1963 marked a pivotal point as Dr Pundalik Gaitonde and Dr Antonio Colaco were nominated for parliamentary elections and Goa voted in India.

Fast forward to 2024, this year 11,79,344 people will vote, including 5,71,617 males, 6,07,715 females, and 12 transgender electors.

Goa has 1,725 polling stations. Among the 8 Lok Sabha candidates are notable names like Pallavi Srinivas Dempo (BJP), Captain Viriato Fernandes (Indian National Congress), and Rubert Pereira (Revolutionary Goans Party) for South Goa, while Tukaram Bharat Parab (Revolutionary Goans Party), Ramakant Khalp (Indian National Congress), and Shripad Naik (BJP) are some notable candidates. Notably, Vasco Da Gama records the highest number of electors at 35,887, followed by Canacona, Poriem, and Quepem.

As Goa heads to the polls, let's come out in large numbers and vote for democracy.