The ruling BJP MGP alliance tightened its grip on Goa’s rural administration on Monday, securing an absolute ma jority by winning 32 out of 50 seats in the Zilla Panchayat elections. BJP won 29 while MGP bagged 3 seats. The Con gress improved its per formance by winning 10 seats, maximum 7 out of 9 in Salcete taluka, which is considered to be the party’s bastion. Congress’s ally Goa Forward Party (GFP) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had the consola tion of winning one seat each, both winning in Salcete taluka. The election also marked a milestone for the Revolutionary Goans Party (RGP), whichopened its account with two seats in its maiden ZP outing after fielding candidates in 29 constituencies. The independent candi dates won four seats, two each in North and South Goa ZP unlike seven independ ents winning in 2020 polls. NCP (Sharad Pawar) had fielded three candidates and all lost. In 2020 polls, the NCP had won one seat. The polling for the 50 ZP seats was held on Sat urday and the results were declared on Monday.
In all 226 candidates including 111 in North Goa and 116 in South Goa contested the elections. In 2020 ZP polls when the elections were held for the first time on party lines, BJP had won 32 out of 50 seats while the Congress had fared poorly winning four seats – one Santa Cruz ZP seat and three in South Goa ZP. This time Congress won two seats in North Goa ZP and 8 in South Goa ZP. The party wrested Davorlim and Guir dolim seats from BJP. Also Congress’ ally GFP could open its account only in Raia of the nine seats it contested. Both Congress and GFP had together contested 45 seats and had extended its support to five independent candidates. Surprisingly, AAP which had opened its account in 2020 elections in Benaulim, and retained it in the by-election, lost to Luiza Rodrigues of Congress. AAP national convenor ArvindKejriwal and its Goa prab hariAtishi had campaigned for the party candidates in the State. In fact, Kejriwal addressed three public meetings and also made brief door-to-door visits in some of the areas during his three-day visit to the State. The BJP-MGP alliance contested 39 seats with the former contesting 36 seats and extending support to independ ents. The AAP had contested 41 seats. Among the prominent winners were sitting ZP members Siddesh Naik (Corlim), son of Union Minister of State for Power Shripad Naik, Gauri Shirodkar (Shiroda), daughter of Water Resources Minister Subhash Shirodkar, Mercenia Vas (Cortalim), wife of Cortalim MLA Antonio Vas and Ka vitaKandolkar (Colvale), wife of former MLA KiranKandol kar, Mahesh Sawant (Karapur-Sarvan) and Julio Fernandes (Velim). Barring Gauri Shirodkar, all others were re-elected. Shiny De Oliveira (Santa Cruz), KartikKudnekar (Socor ro) and Joseph Pimenta (Benaulim) were the sitting ZP members who lost. Also two former ZP Adhykash Nelly Rodrigues (Colva) and Maria Rebello (Benaulim) and former ZP Members Vasant Naik and Mariano Rodrigues (both in Sancoale) were defeated.
