High turnout and more transparency after demonetisation helped out a rare referendum in this assembly polls in Goa and Punjab. As in the past minor violence and the usual voting machine start ups all caused some delay but overall it was a tough battle and we expect a turnaround in the fortunes of political parties. A high 83 per cent polling in tourist paradise Goa shows that people want development and more tourist arrivals. Punjab on the other hand proved to be second to none and people of all walks of life voted to make sure that a stable government assumes office after cases of drug trafficking in the state all spoiled hopes of SAD which is in power by having an alliance with BJP. But the high turnout may tilt the tables on the ruling coalition. It is indeed a great challenge for BJP to prove that demonetisation does not spoil their chances much. The ruling parties in Goa and Punjab stands to gain because of heavy polling and come out victors and prove that Modi can match any challenge from in and outside to come out trumps.
(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
