Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji
Panaji, Dec 23: Once again, the Lotus has emerged on the pedestal in both North and South Goa Zilla Panchayats, defying public outrage over governance failures and controversies. Despite anger on the streets over the Arpora inferno that claimed 25 lives, alleged corruption, cash-for-jobs scams, unemployment and a deteriorating law-and-order situation, voter resentment failed to translate decisively at the ballot box.
While many Goans perceive large-scale land transfers as a “sale of Goa” to outsiders, this strong sentiment did not convert into a clear vote against the ruling BJP. At the same time, a closer analysis of the results points to visible anti-incumbency, as most BJP victories lacked convincing margins, barring constituencies in Sattari taluka. The political dynamics in this belt continue to intrigue observers, where leadership revolves around a dominant individual regarded by supporters as a political “messiah”.
The Zilla Panchayat results, however, raise a larger question — is the BJP unbeatable in Goa, or do these outcomes offer clues for 2027? While power remains firmly with the BJP, the Opposition has reasons not to despair. The Congress, which had just four ZP seats across North and South Goa in 2020, has now increased its tally to around 11. Significantly, all nine Salcete constituencies stood with the Opposition, with Congress winning eight, while one went to a Goa Forward Party (GFP) candidate — a result many believe would have been unchanged even under the Congress symbol.
Other Opposition parties too made their presence felt, with GFP and AAP securing one seat each, and the Revolutionary Goans Party (RGP) winning two. Of the Independent candidates elected, only one was BJP-backed, while the rest fought against the ruling party.
The overarching lesson from the results is clear: no single Opposition party currently has the organisational strength to challenge the BJP on its own. Unity must extend beyond mere seat-sharing arrangements and be visible in sustained political agitations, joint campaigns and a shared narrative. “Friendly fights” and alliances cannot coexist, as seen in experiments like Corlim and Morjim.
The Goa Forward Party, despite limited organisational strength in some constituencies, ran a high-voltage campaign in all nine seats it contested and narrowly missed victories in Poinguinim and Rivona. Its strategic local outreach and political management stood out. For the Opposition, the message from voters is unambiguous — they seek a clear one-to-one contest against the BJP to ensure their vote carries weight.
Candidate selection, alongside party strength, will be crucial going forward. Several strong Independent contenders could have performed better under a unified party banner. A credible Congress–RGP understanding, for instance, may have altered outcomes in constituencies like Calangute, Anjuna, Siolim, Shiroda and Cortalim.
Meanwhile, AAP appears to be testing the waters independently, largely limited to areas represented by its MLAs, though recent voting patterns have raised questions even there.
As the BJP analyses voter sentiment despite securing 32 seats, the Opposition too must introspect. Token unity on the eve of elections and cosmetic ticket distribution will not suffice.
What Goa’s electorate expects is a sincere, united effort and credible people-centric candidates well before 2027. Only then, observers suggest, could the political landscape witness a dramatic shift.