Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has further consolidated its dominance in the Zilla Panchayat elections, surging ahead with 20 PLUS seats as counting concluded across the State. The Congress and Independent candidates trailed well behind, securing 5 seats each, while the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), Goa Forward Party (GFP) and Revolutionary Goans Party (RGP) managed to win one seat each. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) failed to open its account.
The results underline BJP’s strong grassroots presence and come as a major boost for the party ahead of the forthcoming Assembly elections.
Among the prominent BJP victories, Nilesh Parwar won from Querim, Mahesh Sawant from Karapur–Sarvan, and Rajshri Rajesh Gaonkar from Rivona. Amit Asnodkar retained the Socorro seat, while Raguvir Kuncolencar emerged victorious from Taleigao.
The party also registered wins through Poonam Samant (Borim), Anjali Velip (Barcem), Premnath Dalvi (Nagargao), Padmakar Malik (Latambarcem), Mohan Gaonkar (Sanvordem), Sunil Gawas (Sancoale), Sameksha Naik (Usgao–Ganje), Shidharth Dessai (Xeldem), Franzilia Rodrigues (Calangute), Rupesh Dessai (Dharbandora) and Namdev Chari (Honda).
The Congress secured victories in several constituencies, including Rumdamol, where Floriano Fernandes won, Nuvem, won by Anthony Braganza, Curtorim, where Astra Ranzille Da Silva emerged victorious, Cola, won by Sumitra Pagi, Guirdolim, where Sanjay Velip prevailed, and Navelim, won by Malifa Cardozo.
Independent candidates also made a notable impact. Sunil Jalmi won from Betqui–Candola, Kavita Kandolkar from Colvale, Merciana Vas from Cortalim and Radhika Palyekar from Arambol.
Among other party wins, Esperanca Braganza of the RGP emerged victorious from St Cruz, Ganapat Naik of the MGP won from Quela, and Inacina Pinto of the Goa Forward Party secured the Raia seat.
With a clear majority in hand and wins spread across both districts, the BJP’s strong showing in the Zilla Panchayat polls has firmly reinforced its political grip on Goa’s local governance landscape.
The Zilla Panchayat elections in Goa witnessed an overall voter participation of 71 per cent, indicating a fairly strong response from the electorate, as per official figures.
Polling took place across constituencies in North and South Goa under heightened security arrangements. Election officials said the voting process was conducted smoothly and peacefully, with no major disruptions reported during the day.
Political observers say the elections are significant as they offer insights into grassroots-level public opinion ahead of the State Assembly elections slated for next year.
As many as 226 candidates were in the fray for the elections, with 111 contesting in North Goa and 115 in South Goa. The field includes just nine sitting members, along with 12 candidates who had also contested the polls in 2020.
