TEAM HERALD
PORVORIM: It was a setback for the BJP in Porvorim assembly constituency, as both its candidates were defeated by independent candidates supported by Porvorim’s Independent MLA Rohan Khaunte in the ZP constituencies of Socorro and Penha-da-Franca.
In the Socorro ZP constituency, BJP candidate Dhanasree Gadekar was defeated by independent candidate Vaishali Satardekar by a substantial margin of 4,098 votes.
Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar, who was confident of BJP candidate’s victory in the Socorro ZP polls, had even predicted a win by over 1,200 votes.
A jubilant Khaunte told Herald that he was confident that his candidate, Vaishali Satardeker, would win by a comfortable margin.
Khaunte further cemented his influence in Porvorim assembly constituency by getting his candidate Gupesh Naik elected from Penha-da-Franca ZP constituency. Gupesh Naik defeated his rival BJP candidate, Ganashyam Naik, by a margin of 1,355 votes.
Speaking to Herald, Khaunte said the results indicate that voters have voted with conscience in the ZP election. “Despite the use of government machinery, money power and canvassing by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar and other leaders, the BJP failed to get its candidates elected,” he said.
“This is a victory of the people and I thank the voters for reposing confidence in me and getting my candidates elected. The time has come to review my support to the ruling BJP government and I will do it in a couple of days,” stated Khaunte.
On the other hand, it was a partial victory for Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar, as he could ensure the victory of only one of the two BJP candidates in the two ZP constituencies of Reis Magos and Socorro, which form his Saligao assembly constituency.
Hit by the loss of BJP candidate Dhanasree Gadekar in the Socorro ZP polls, Parulekar salvaged some pride in the Reis Magos ZP constituency, as the BJP candidate, Rupesh Naik, who is presently the Pilerne sarpanch, defeated outgoing ZP member, Jayesh Salgaonkar and four other candidates.
Jayesh Salgaonkar was also the outgoing North Goa ZP chairman.
