Twenty-five years ago, in 1999, Shripad Bhau Naik defeated the sitting Member of Parliament, who was also a Union Minister Ramakant Khalap, to win his first parliamentary elections.
Come 2024, there seems to be a rematch now as Congress has once again fielded veteran Ramakant Khalap against the 5-time MP Shripad Naik in North Goa.
Can Ramakant Khalap defeat Shirpad to avenge his loss in 1999?
After 1999, it seemed like curtains for Khapal’s political career, until the Congress decided to give him another chance 25 years later. If he loses, it surely is curtains for him now.
However, similar could be the fate of Shripad Naik as he has already announced this would be his last election and has asked the party to look out for his successor.
The North Goa statistics…
The influence of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), in North Goa has been significant. Up until 2024, there have been 14 Lok Sabha elections in this seat, with BJP winning five times, Congress five times, and Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party four times.
In the 2019 Lok Sabha election, BJPs Shripad Yesso Naik won the North Goa seat with a majority of 80,247 votes.
Naik received 2,44,844 votes, while Congresss Girish Ray Chodankar received 1,64,597 votes. In the 2014 Lok Sabha election, BJPs Shripad Yesso Naik won the North Goa seat.
North Goa is one of the two Lok Sabha parliamentary constituencies in Goa. According to the schedule, Goa will vote in just one phase on May 7 for its two Lok Sabha constituencies.
The coastal state has two Lok Sabha constituencies: North Goa and South Goa.
The BJP has won the South Goa constituency only twice since 1962.
In the 2019 general elections, the North Goa seat was won by BJP candidate Shripad Yesso Naik, while the South Goa seat was won by Congress candidate Cosme Francisco Caitano Sardinha.
Voting for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections will be held in seven phases, starting on April 19 and ending on June 1. The results will be declared on June 4.
North Goa Lok Sabha Election 2024: Key Candidates
BJP Shripad Yesso Naik
INC Ramakant Khalap
AAP
NOTA None of the Above
North Goa Lok Sabha Election 2024: Important Dates
Issue of Notification: 12-04-2024
Last Date for filing Nominations: 19-04-2024
Scrutiny of Nominations: 20-04-2024
Last date for withdrawal of Candidature: 22-04-2024
Date of Poll: 07-05-2024
Counting of Votes: 04-06-2024
Date before which the election shall be Completed: 06-06-2024
North Goa Lok Sabha Election Result(2019)
In the 2019 general elections, BJP candidate Shripad Yesso Naik emerged victorious, securing 244,844 votes, followed by INC’s Girish Chodankar — 1,64,597 votes.
North Goa Lok Sabha Election Result(2014)
In the 2014 general elections, BJP candidate Shripad Yesso Naik emerged victorious, securing 2,37,903 votes, followed by INC’s Ravi S. Naik — 1,32,304 votes.
The INDI Alliance factor…
Well, the Opposition INDI alliance has put up a brave fight against the BJP.
All parties, Aam Aadmi Party, Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar group) and the Goa Forward Party have “wholeheartedly” supported the Congress in the big fight against the BJP in 2024.
For the Opposition, this is not just another poll, it is the fight for “existence” as they know if this is a do-or-die situation for them and there is no other alternative.
The delay will hurt the Congress…
While the Congress seems to have a great support base in South Goa, especially Salcete, the same is lacking in North Goa, which is a Hindu-dominated constituency.
To make matters even worse Congress has not given enough time for its North Goa candidate Ramakant Khalap, the party leaders or the alliance partners to campaign and garner support from the people.
So while there is an anti-incumbency factor in the North, how much will Congress be able to take benefit of the same time will tell.
