The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has secured a decisive victory in the crucial Zilla Panchayat (ZP) elections in Goa, winning control of both the North Goa and South Goa Zilla Panchayats. The results, declared on Monday, saw the ruling party win a total of 29 seats, consolidating its influence in the state's rural local governance.
A Clear Mandate Despite Close Contests
While the BJP emerged as the clear winner, the election was not without its tense moments. The party's total seat count of 29 marks a decrease from the 33 seats it held in the previous ZP term. The principal opposition, the Indian National Congress, significantly improved its position, winning 10 seats compared to its earlier tally of just four. Several independent candidates and other opposition members also put up a strong fight, forcing the BJP to sweat it out in many constituencies.
The margins of victory were notably narrow in several key seats. In Torxem in Pernem taluka, BJP candidate Raghoba Ladu Kambli won with 3,725 votes, narrowly defeating independent Gajanan Gadekar who secured 3,448 votes. Similarly, in Sirsaim, Congress candidate Nilesh Kambli clinched the seat with 4,701 votes, a slim lead over BJP's Sagar Maulankar who polled 4,622 votes.
Leadership Credits Schemes and Development Work
Reacting to the victory, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant attributed the win to the state government's welfare initiatives and development agenda. He specifically highlighted the impact of the 'Mhaje Ghar' housing scheme and other beneficiary-oriented programs. "We had an 80% strike rate at these elections," Sawant stated. He added that every election serves as a performance review, and the party would work to secure an even bigger victory in the upcoming state assembly polls.
BJP state president Damodar 'Damu' Naik was more pointed in his remarks. "The result shows that there is no other alternative than BJP," he said. Naik also addressed critics who had questioned the party's prospects with the use of ballot papers, stating, "People were taunting us that you will not be able to bluff now with the ballot paper. Now, we have won with ballot paper and they have been silenced." He credited the victory to public appreciation of CM Sawant's work and the party's success in overcoming what he called a campaign of misinformation.
Opposition Cites Vote Division, BJP Vows to Rectify Mistakes
Opposition members offered a different analysis of the results. They argued that the BJP managed to secure victory in several constituencies primarily due to a division of votes among non-BJP candidates. This fragmentation, they claimed, allowed the BJP to win despite not securing an overwhelming majority of votes in those areas.
Chief Minister Sawant dismissed this criticism. "These are things they are saying now that they have lost. The opposition should have fought it together then. Why did they fight it out individually against us?" he questioned, making a reference to the apparent unity displayed by opposition parties during the recent Narkasur festival event.
Despite the overall win, the CM acknowledged the close calls in some seats. "In some seats, we did win with narrow margins due to some mistakes, we will assess and work on these mistakes," Sawant conceded. He emphasized that the final tally represented a clear endorsement of the BJP-led NDA's governance. "The NDA has won both zilla panchayats. The winning candidates will work for the development of rural Goa," he asserted, noting that the Congress had been "contained at 10 seats."
The results of these local body elections are seen as a significant mid-term indicator of the political mood in Goa, setting the stage for the next assembly elections.
