Panaji, Oct 31 : The initial hours of the polling for the Mormugao Lok Sabha by polls have witnessed very low turnout.

The poll tilll now has been peaceful.

An official from state electoral office said polling was bereft of any queues. In last three-and-a-half hours, hardly 10 to 15 per cent polling is registered.

A total of 5,60,898 voters, including 2,79,338 females, are expected to cast their votes till 5 p.m.

The Congress Party’s Fransisco Sardinha and the BJP’s Dr Wilfred mesquite are directly locked in a fight for the seat.

The other independent candidates Jawahar Dias and Hamja Khan are also in the fray.

The polling is being held on 590 polling booths, out of which, 65 have been declared as 'sensitive'.

Catholic-dominated Salcette, which will determine the winning candidate, has largest number of sensitive polling booths compared to rest of the talukas in the constituency.

Salcette has 31 sensitive polling booths while Ponda has 9, Mormugao has 18, Sanguem and Quepem has 4.

The election is being conducted on electronic voting machines (EVMs).

Six companies of the central para-military forces and about 1,500 local police have been deployed to maintain law and order situation.

Two general observers and one expenditure observer is on duty to see that the elections are held in a free, fair and peaceful manner.

According to officials, 95 area officers and 21 sector officers have been pressed into service in different areas.

The counting will be held on November 3. (ANI)