Date:04/11/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/11/04/stories/2007110461131200.htm

National

Congress retains Mormugao Lok Sabha seat

Special Correspondent

PANAJI: The ruling Congress has retained the Mormugao Lok Sabha seat, winning with a margin of about 40,000 votes.

The Wednesday’s byelection result was declared at Margao in south Goa on Saturday.

The poor voter turnout of (around 36 per cent) had generated considerable interest about the result.

Congress candidate Francisco Sardinha, who is also Pradesh Congress Committee president, defeated Wilfred Mesquita of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

While Mr. Sardinha polled 1,18,583 votes, Mr. Mesquita got only 77,681 votes. Two independents — Hamza Khan (with 1945 votes) and Jawahar Dias (2986 votes) — forfeited their deposits.

“The result has proved that the people have confidence in the Congress-led Government,” Chief Minister Digambar Kamat said.

Attacking the Opposition for trying to generate controversies, he said the government would protect the interests of people while taking any decision on special economic zones.

The Opposition BJP is spearheading a campaign against the SEZs.