Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: Campaigning for the December 20 Zilla Panchayat elections in Goa concluded today at 8 am bringing to an end weeks of intense political activity and setting the stage for a closely fought contest among the State’s key political parties.
The elections will determine the outcome in all 50 Zilla Panchayat constituencies across North and South Goa, with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its ally, the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), seeking to reinforce their dominance at the grassroots level. The alliance has projected the polls as a crucial barometer of public support ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections, leaning heavily on Chief Minister Pramod Sawant’s extensive campaigning and development-focused narrative.
The Congress, contesting in alliance with the Goa Forward Party (GFP), has attempted to reassert itself by positioning the combine as the main alternative to the BJP-MGP bloc. Their campaign highlighted issues such as unemployment, weaknesses in local self-governance, and alleged corruption under the current government.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), fighting the elections independently with candidates in 42 constituencies, sought to energise the race by banking on its governance pitch and high-profile leadership. AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal’s three-day visit to Goa, which included public rallies and door-to-door outreach alongside party candidates, emerged as the centrepiece of its campaign. The party has said it hopes to expand its presence in rural Goa through these polls.
Also in the fray is the Revolutionary Goans Party (RGP), which has been campaigning aggressively to translate its identity-driven politics into electoral relevance. Emphasising local issues and grassroots mobilisation, the party aims to demonstrate that it can move beyond protest politics and secure a stable foothold in the State.
The final phase of campaigning saw a packed schedule of public meetings, house-to-house canvassing and digital outreach. Chief Minister Sawant led multiple rallies for the BJP, while senior Congress leaders and GFP chief Vijay Sardesai campaigned in constituencies where their candidates are in the contest.
With the campaign curtain now drawn, the focus shifts to polling day on December 20. For the BJP-MGP alliance, the elections will test organisational reach and voter confidence. For the Congress-GFP combine, they represent an opportunity to recover lost political ground. The AAP is looking to validate its Goa experiment, while the RGP hopes to consolidate its emerging support base.
Counting of votes is scheduled for December 22. While the Zilla Panchayats themselves wield limited powers, the results are expected to offer important signals about the political mood in Goa as the State heads toward larger electoral battles in the coming years.
