ZP polls: political parties confident of winning maximum seats

Team Herald

PANJIM: As over 4.49 lakh voters have already decided their next leaders to represent the second-tier Panchayati Raj bodies, which will be known on Monday, the political parties have expressed sky-high confidence of garnering maximum number of seats in the crucial poll, which is considered as a semi-final ahead of 2022 State Assembly elections.

While both the ruling BJP and prime opponent Congress are sure to have their flags flying high on North as well as South Goa ZP bodies, the MGP and Independents claim that without their support no party can rule the ZP.

Speaking to media persons on Sunday, the Chief Minister, Dr Pramod Sawant, expressed confidence that his party will win both ZP seats with comfortable margins. “Our BJP karyakartas, Ministers, MLAs have done commendable ground work. The people have faith in this government as in me as a Chief Minister and we have faith in our voters,” he said.

“On Monday, BJP will have its chairperson heading both North and South Goa ZPs,” he said.

Responding to a question on more powers to ZP body, 

the Chief Minister said the ZP members will now have larger contribution towards rural development under ‘Atmanirbhar Goa’.

He said under 15th Finance Commission, an additional Rs 75 crore funds have been allocated to the ZPs.

On the other hand, the Congress too is sure about its victory as the party claims that the voters are frustrated with the functioning and anti-people policies of the BJP-led government.

 “Congress will have its flags on both ZPs. Candidates sponsored by the BKP and their A, B and C teams and allies will get befitting reply from the voters,” Congress president Girish Chodankar said.

He said the people’s wrath against the government was clearly visible on the polling day with many boycotting the voting process. “The kind of feedback we are getting, the party is confident of winning majority seats,” he said.

The MGP, which fielded 17 candidates, is also hopeful of winning at least 12 seats. “We will win nothing less than 12 seats. There cannot be a ZP body without our support,” MGP supreme Sudin Dhavalikar said.

With as many as 78 Independent candidates in fray, they too feel that they will be the ultimate deciding factors.