The rest – 149 candidates, were supported by parties like Congress as well as independent
MLAs.
However, the ruling coalition still managed to win in North Goa. It got the help of
Taleigao strongman Atanasion Babush Monserrate. The results had shown that Maya
Shetgaokar backed by Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar faced a humiliating defeat in
Morjim as she lost to Congress-backed Independent candidate Srimati Manjrekar. His
cabinet colleagues Ramesh Tawadkar’s candidate Krishna Velip lost in Khola to Shanu
Velip. Candidates backed by Alina Saldanha, and MLAs Dr Pramod Sawant and Benjiamin
Silva also faced defeat at the hands of Independent candidates.
Speaker Rajendra Arlekar’s Dhargalim seat also went to an Independent – Tukaram
Harmalkar whereas Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar – backed candidate Dhanashree
Ghanekar lost to Vaishali Satardekar, backed by Independent legislator Rohan Khaute in
Succoro. But the minister’s candidate Rupesh Naik managed to gain victory in Reis Magos.
Another highlight was the defeat of BJP candidate Shilpa Naik from Latambarse seat
in Bicholim, where Independent MLA Naresh Sawal-supported Sanjay Shetye won.
In Vishnu Wagh’s St Andre, Congress backed Dhaku Madkaikar beat the BJP candidate.
Rajan Naik’s Girdolim, Caitu Silva’s Benaulim and Benjamin Silva’s Velim constituencies
also saw ruling coalition candidates fall by the wayside.
Similarly, minister Francisco Mickky Pacheco faced a humiliating defeat in his own
Nuvem constituency as his candidate was beaten by independent candidate Babashan
alias Wilfred D’Sa once close to him.
Sanguem MLA Subhash Faldesai’s candidate Navnath Naik literally scraped through
by defeating independnet MLA Surya Naik in Rivona constituency, winning the seat hardly
by 200 votes.
