The political gamble taken by Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) leader Ketan Bhatikar to break away from the ruling alliance and field independent candidates in the Ponda taluka Zilla Panchayat (ZP) elections has failed to yield results. The BJP-MGP combine secured a decisive victory, winning six out of the seven contested seats.
Alliance Dominance in Ponda Taluka
Barring the Betki-Khandola constituency, the BJP-MGP partnership emerged victorious across the board. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidates triumphed in four seats, while the MGP secured wins for both of its officially backed candidates. This outcome arrives at a critical juncture, as Bhatikar has publicly declared his intention to contest the upcoming Ponda assembly bypolls against any candidate fielded by the BJP—a move that breaks from the MGP's stated position of supporting the BJP's nominee.
The results from Saturday's polls likely brought relief to the BJP, serving as a potential indicator that Bhatikar may lack the necessary ground support to mount a serious challenge against the ruling party in the by-elections.
Constituency-Wise Results and Key Battles
The detailed results from the key constituencies paint a clear picture of the alliance's strength:
In Curti, BJP's Pritesh Premanand Gaonkar won with 6,494 votes, defeating Bhatikar-supported independent Bhiku Kerkar, who polled 5,636 votes.
In Kavlem, MGP's Ganpat Naik secured the highest vote tally in the taluka, receiving 9,387 votes.
The Priol-Veling constituency witnessed MGP's Pushpa alias Aditi Gaude win by the highest margin of 5,833 votes, securing a total of 8,176 votes.
In Borim, BJP's Poonam Samant claimed victory with 8,984 votes, overcoming a challenge from independent Bhavana Naik who received 4,882 votes.
Shiroda saw Gauri, daughter of sitting MLA Subhash Shirodkar, win the seat for the BJP with 5,985 votes. Her nearest rival, RG's Deepinti Shirodkar, polled a much lower 2,868 votes.
The sole seat that slipped from the alliance's grasp was Betki-Khandola, where independent Sunil Jalmi won with 8,081 votes against BJP's Shramesh Bhonsle's 5,988 votes.
Bhatikar's Reaction and Road to Bypolls
Despite the defeat, Ketan Bhatikar remained defiant and sought to frame the results as a moral victory. He acknowledged that his supported candidates lost but emphasized the narrow margins of defeat. "We were up against the entire BJP machinery. But we did well," Bhatikar stated. He claimed the campaign has energized his workers for the forthcoming Ponda bypolls, adding, "They are all ready and will begin work for the bypolls from tomorrow itself."
This ZP poll result sets the stage for a tense and closely watched contest in the Ponda assembly bypolls. It tests Bhatikar's individual influence against the organized might of the BJP-MGP alliance and will be a significant marker of political sentiment in the region.
