PANJIM: Unlike 2017 Assembly polls, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had to sweat it hard to win in all the talukas of Goa this time.
While the Congress, whose tally was reduced from 17 to 11 seats this time, had the mortification of seeing its seats dropping in its stronghold Salcete taluka even as the party put up a spectacular performance in the Bardez taluka.
Five years ago the BJP won 13 seats but had failed to open account in seven talukas. The BJP wrested three seats in Ponda, two in Sattari and one each in Salcete, Quepem, Sanguem, Canacona and Dharbandora talukas.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Power Minister Nilesh Cabral and former Ministers Babush Monserrate and Govind Gaude won by smaller victory margins while former Chief Minister Ravi Naik won by the lowest victory margin. For the first time BJP won in Navelim by a thin margin.
On the other hand, all 11 MLAs-elect of Congress Party fared better than the other rivals. Two veteran leaders of the Opposition, Digambar Kamat and former Minister Aleixo Sequeira and former Minister Michael Lobo won by huge margins while, party’s eight faces also won by a comfortable victory margin.
The oldest regional Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) was expected to fare better following a tie-up with the Trinamool Congress Party (TMC) in the election but it won only two seats by retaining Marcaim and wrested Mandrem from the BJP. Three of its 13 candidates lost the election by small margins.
After poor performance in 2017 polls, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) won two seats – Benaulim and Velim – both in Salcete taluka. It had fielded candidates in all talukas.
The Revolutionary Goans Party (RGP) in its maiden electoral battle stunned all by winning St Andre seat, which had always voted for the Congress party except in 2012 polls when BJP wrested it.
