Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Dec 23: The ruling BJP–MGP alliance strengthened its hold over Goa’s rural administration by securing an absolute majority in the Zilla Panchayat (ZP) elections, winning 32 of the 50 seats, the results of which were declared on Monday.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged as the single largest party with 29 seats, while its ally Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) won three seats. The Congress registered an improved performance compared to the previous polls, winning 10 seats, including seven out of nine seats in Salcete taluka, considered the party’s stronghold.

Congress allies Goa Forward Party (GFP) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) managed to win one seat each, both from Salcete. The elections also marked a significant milestone for the Revolutionary Goans Party (RGP), which opened its account by winning two seats in its maiden ZP contest after fielding candidates in 29 constituencies.

Independent candidates won four seats — two each in North Goa and South Goa — a drop from seven independents who had won in the 2020 ZP elections. The Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction), which had fielded three candidates, failed to secure any seat.

Polling for the 50 ZP seats was held on Saturday, with a total of 226 candidates in the fray — 111 in North Goa and 116 in South Goa.

In the 2020 ZP elections, held for the first time on party lines, the BJP had also won 32 seats, while the Congress had managed only four. This time, Congress improved its tally by winning two seats in North Goa and eight in South Goa, wresting the Davorlim and Guirdolim seats from the BJP.

The GFP, which contested nine seats, could open its account only in Raia. Congress and GFP together contested 45 seats and extended support to five independent candidates.

AAP, which had opened its account in the 2020 elections from Benaulim and retained the seat in a by-election, lost the seat this time to Congress candidate Luiza Rodrigues. AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal and Goa in-charge Atishi had campaigned extensively in the state, including public meetings and door-to-door outreach.

The BJP–MGP alliance contested 39 seats, with the BJP fielding candidates in 36 constituencies and supporting independents in the remaining seats. AAP contested 41 seats across the state.

Among the prominent winners were sitting ZP members Siddesh Naik (Corlim), son of Union Minister of State for Power Shripad Naik; Mercenia Vas (Cortalim), wife of Cortalim MLA Antonio Vas; Kavita Kandolkar (Colvale), wife of former MLA Kiran Kandolkar; Mahesh Sawant (Karapur–Sarvan) and Julio Fernandes (Velim). Gauri Shirodkar (Shiroda), daughter of Water Resources Minister Subhash Shirodkar, won the seat but was not a sitting member.

Sitting ZP members Shiny De Oliveira (Santa Cruz), Kartik Kudnekar (Socorro) and Joseph Pimenta (Benaulim) were among those defeated. Former ZP Adhyakshas Nelly Rodrigues (Colva) and Maria Rebello (Benaulim), along with former ZP members Vasant Naik and Mariano Rodrigues from Sancoale, also lost their seats.